“It is not in our nature to be satisfied with things as they are, to receive provision for our needs without working, to endure idleness for long, to toil in a system of uncreative regimentation, or to work in social isolation.”
I read this in a devotional titled: The Theology of Work. It is in reference to Genesis 1: 27-28, and it made me think about these ideas that I want to share with you.
I think it is natural for everyone at some point to be unsatisfied with their work. Not every job brings joy every day, but there is a God-given purpose in our working.
I challenge you today to think about your job in light of the passage above. If you are unsatisfied, consider these things.
1. “It is not in our nature to be satisfied with things as they are.” God placed you in this job for a purpose that is bigger than just receiving a paycheck. You are to be creatively impacting your work environment for the better by being His salt and light. If the status quo isn’t a place of joy, maybe that’s the very reason God placed YOU in it!
2. We were not created “to receive provision for our needs without working, to endure idleness for long,”. Be grateful for the job you have right now. As young women, I think it is easy to long for a day in the future when you are married and have children and you don’t have to “work” anymore. First, being a wife and a mother is “work” if it is done well. Second, the dedication you give to completing the task before you right now, will produce stamina and patience, and help to build the character traits that will prepare you to do whatever “work” that God has planned for you in the future seasons of your life.
3. We are not “to toil in a system of uncreative regimentation.” We were created in the image of God , who is a creator. Have you ever stopped to think about the creative aspects of your job? Some of you may actually create something artistically, but all of us create in some way. We create connections between people, we create documents, we create sales displays, we create comfort for others, and the list goes on and on. Everything we do creates an effect on something or someone else. What an awesome opportunity we have to reflect and practice what God, Himself did everyday during His creation process. At the end of His work day, He considered what He produced and said, “It is good.” When you look back at the end of each day on what you have created , what is your assessment? Would you consider it good?
4. We were not meant to “work in social isolation.” I know that many of you work from home. This new shift to working remotely has many benefits, but it also has many negative aspects as well. We were not meant to be in isolation. If you work from home, I recommend that you take your mobile office to a communal workspace a few days a week. Find a coffee shop or maybe invest in a shared workspace. You need to be in an
environment, at least some of the time, where other people are active and engaged. I am realizing this myself. Even though my inner introvert likes the solitude of working from home, God’s Word tells me that it is not good to be alone. This takes us back to the first point. We were meant to be salt and light for a dark and hurting world. What good is our light or salt if no one else can see or taste it?
Not all of these insights may apply to now, but I hope that at least one of them resonates with you. If so, ask God to help you put into practice today what you have learned.
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