We talked about a lot of stuff on Sunday, Please read all of this post to get full context.
First we tried to define “work.” It has A LOT of negative connotations, even though that is why people go to vocational school, College, specialty schools, etc. So we looked at the dictionary.
Define: Work:
a job or activity that you do regularly especially in order to earn money
: the place where you do your job
: the things that you do especially as part of your job
Define Career:
a job or profession that someone does for a long time
: a period of time spent in a job or profession
Define Vocation:
a strong desire to spend your life doing a certain kind of work (such as religious work)
: the work that a person does or should be doing
a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action; especially : a divine call to the religious life
So Vocation is more of what we seek in this life. We seek the place that we “should” be. That job, that work, that effort that God has called us to do. We each have a destiny, what exactly is it?
So then why is it so hard to find it?
According to ABC:
- Americans work more than anyone in the industrialized world
- Take less vacation
- Work longer days
- Retire later in life.
Another study showed “In 1990, Americans worked an average of nearly one month more per year than in 1970”
——————————————————————————————–
That is why there has been a lot of research that has gone into studying efficiency, happiness, and lifestyle that revolves around work and the workplace. The new buzz word is: Workplace Culture or Company Culture.
Workplace Culture:
Delivering Happiness: has this to say:
“The problem when someone feels burned out, bored, unchallenged, or stifled by their work is not the job itself but rather the environment and playground rules given to them to do the job at hand.” “Open, honest communication is the best foundation for any relationship, but remember that at the end of the day it’s not what you say or what you do, but how you make people feel that matters the most.”“ For individuals, character is destiny. For organizations, culture is destiny.”
“I thought about how easily we are all brainwashed by our society and culture to stop thinking and just assume by default that more money equals more success and more happiness, when ultimately happiness is really just about enjoying life.”
-Tony Hseih
We described as a small group all the places we think we would like to work, but to be honest its hard to find. Even then, not everyone is going to work in a place that even has that consideration.
Caveat: I didt get a chance to go over this but we were running out of time. Not all vocations will lend themselves to making money, or making a lot of money. Some vocations are pretty thankless. Not all businesses make a lot of money, neither do school teachers, and even some doctors have issues with money management. That is where we need to be sensitive to God and His leading for each of our individual lives.
Our society is not “optimized” for vocations and happiness, that is why we call it work and have a negative connotation to it. However, we must follow what God and the Bible says about us. Don’t be afraid of making changes and doing what your true vocation is 🙂
——————
What the bible says about work:
Colossians 3
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
2 Thessalonians 3
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,
8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.
13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Great Resources:
48 Days to the work you love
By Dan Miller
Amazon Link
