Finding Meaning in our Work
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24
I used to think there were just two types of jobs in the world: meaningful jobs and all the rest. Meaningful jobs were ones in which the work itself helped people or solved some of the world’s great problems. Any other type of work was just a job. I now see it differently.
Some do get the chance to heal people, eradicate diseases, or do other jobs that most would agree are inherently meaningful. However, there are many types of work where great meaning can be found.
For some people, the satisfaction of providing for their family makes their work meaningful. For others, their relationships with co-workers give their work meaning.
For still others, meaning comes from how they use the fruits of their labor. For example, I know a corporate attorney who lives far beneath her means in order to contribute significant time and money to a ministry that keeps kids out of gangs and helps homeless people get a new start.
For some couples, their joint decision to have one parent stay home to focus on their kids adds meaning to both of their lives.
Maybe meaning is an inside job
When we struggle to find meaning in our work, one possible cause is that we think meaning is something our work should bring to us instead of us bringing meaning to our work.
In his book, “Authentic Happiness,” Psychologist Martin Seligman tells the story of a hospital orderly who meticulously selected pictures for the walls of a room where a close friend of Seligman’s lay unconscious. The orderly explained, “I’m responsible for the health of all these patients. Take Mr. Miller here. He hasn’t woken up since they brought him in, but when he does, I want to make sure he sees beautiful things right away.”
This orderly viewed his work as integral to the healing of patients, whereas another might think of his work as menial and meaningless. The first orderly saw his job as a calling; the second simply as a source of income. The tasks are the same, but the perspective is completely different.
“Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.” – Ephesians 6:5-8 (MSG)
How do you view your work?