The summer of 2010 is rapidly drawing to a close. In a few more weeks, the leaves on the trees will begin to change color and fall to the ground. Temperatures will soon begin to turn toward the cool end of the scale.
As the hazy, lazy days of summer wind down, I can sense an almost audible sigh of depression across the land. Part of this sigh comes from the mouths of our children because they know that it won’t be long until they’ll be back behind their desks wrestling with homework and tests and papers and projects. Soon they can look forward to enjoying those wonderful mystery meat entrees in their school cafeterias each day at lunch!
And, whereas the start of school brings parents some measure of cheer, they are also somewhat despondent, because vacations are over. It’s back to the hectic pace of life with no extended break to anticipate for an entire year. Now all they have to look forward to is the brief weekend respite from each week’s labors, before once more they spend every Monday morning, mourning Monday.
At this depressing time of year, most of us can identify with the bumper sticker I’ve seen so often in this area that says, “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to work.” If you feel that way you are not alone. A 2003 survey by the Society of Human Resources found that eight out of ten workers wanted to leave their jobs. Stats also tell us that more heart-attacks happen between 8AM and 9AM on Mondays than during any other time—indicating that many people look at their jobs as nothing but
stress-inducing labor.
The Bible teaches that our attitude about work wasn’t meant to be like this. Ecclesiastes 3:21 says, “So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here!” Please note—in this verse Solomon didn’t say, “There is nothing better for people than to have work that makes them happy.” No—the emphasis is on our being happy in your work, not on our work making us happy.
The way to be happy in our work is to think of our careers as a calling. The way to find fulfillment Monday through Friday is to realize that God has placed us in our jobs for a purpose, understanding that your work place—whether it’s inside an office building or at various sales call sites—is your mission field.
Your job is the good work that God Himself prepared in advance for you to do! (Ephesians 2:10) When we re-frame our careers in this way we learn to make an eternal difference while on the job—and nothing brings us more joy.
So, as Isaiah 55:2 says, “Why labor on what does not satisfy?” Don’t just work to make money—ask God to help you see ways to use your work to share His love. Only then will your labor bring the satisfaction you long for—far more satisfaction than a week at the beach!
Keep the SON in your eyes!