In this article, I am going to explore the concept of work as the Christian is lead to understand it and then see how we can apply this knowledge to find out about job satisfaction.
1, WORK
For many people, work conjures up an image of drudgery, the "9 to 5", the strain of commuting etc. All this for a monthly or weekly remuneration and perhaps some socialising with one's fellow workers. It is helpful to see just how work is presented in the Bible and how relevant it is for us today.
We must start of course with God himself and his creation. Genesis 1:26 reminds us that we are stewards of this earth and we are responsible for maintaining it. This is the positive side of work, benefiting all mankind. The negative side comes in Genesis 3:17 after the fall, where work is presented as "hard labour" or "toil", yet Psalm 128:2 reminds us that benefits are to be obtained from this toiling away.
In the new Testament, the concept is clearly seen in Paul's letters: He condemns idleness(2 Thessalonians 3:6) and in Ephesians 4:28 encourages believers to work and so share with those in need.
A central issue that some grapple with is the question of priorities: Work V Play. We are reminded that even as God rested on the seventh day, so for us there should be a time where we leave aside our work and renew ourselves by rest. Jesus himself alluded to this in Matthew 11:28 & 29.
To close this section, an important principle should be noted: Work itself is not a curse, it is God's way of instructing us and using our skills for the benefit of mankind.
2, JOB SATISFACTION
From the short introduction to work as presented in the Bible, we now turn to the problem of job satisfaction. A recent survey done by my employer indicated a very low level of job satisfaction and this may well be the case for many employee. How can I find any job satisfaction in such a boring job ? Management theorists and Psychologists have studied this problem and it has been suggested that Work has five dimensions:
1, Physiological (e.g. Human beings working instead of machines)
5, Power (e.g. Responsibility for other employees)
To find job satisfaction, it is useful to bear these five points in mind.
Many people are forced to work in low-paid jobs with little or no job satisfaction. However, it may be helpful to see this drudgery in terms of a test of faith. James 1:3-4 reminds us that we must persevere and in doing so we will benefit, not least through development of character.
Another problem that occurs is that of being under-paid and/or not receiving recognition. Ephesians 6:5-8 reminds us that we may not get the reward we deserve on earth, but God sees all good work done and he will reward us accordingly. 1 Peter 2:18-19 tells us that God expects us to submit to our masters even if they are harsh and so overcome evil with good.
It is often the case for many of us that we feel that our Christian life and our life at work don't mix, but we are reminded in scripture that God wants to enter every area of our lives and we can glorify him in the workplace as well as in the church. Romans 4:4-5 is a great reminder to us of the benefits of our faith in Christ.
We must also keep work in it's proper place for it can be dangerous to let work be our primary source of fulfilment and may result in spiritual dryness. Proverbs 23:4 warns us of the dangers of overwork and we are encouraged not to set our minds of transient things, but on those above (Matthew 6:19)
What about the problem of a hard boss ? a difficult co-worker ? In these situations we can only be open to the direction of the spirit as he guides us. We are called to be a praying people and a trusting people and in situations like that, we need to analyse carefully the situation and try to see what God may be saying to us.
My final point really concerns what might be called "Grades of Work". It is a misconception that those in full-time Christian service are doing the "highest" form of work. But scripture tells us that God honours all our effects and though we may not see any tangible results, he sees all and will reward accordingly. Bearing this is mind may help us to see our job in a positive light.
SUMMARY
We have seen the concept of work as outlined in the Bible and also the many problems that occur in the working environment. We conclude by saying that whether we be a doctor or a truck driver, a lawyer or a road sweeper, God sees the work we do and it is possible to see that he has a plan for us all and we bring honour to him only when we submit to his will.
