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Enjoy work? Those words might bring a loud burst of laughter. You picture the most disagreeable part of your job—whether it's scrubbing toilets, typing letters, or practicing diplomacy with the boss—and say, "Enjoy work? Not with my job."

Yet, after the writer of Ecclesiastes had searched in all the obvious places for meaning in life (and met with disappointment), he began to look at everyday things like work. To enjoy work, he declared, is not only possible, it's a gift from God.

Even in boring jobs, you can set small goals and feel personal satisfaction when you achieve them. You can also refuse to get caught up in gossip about coworkers and petty criticism of the boss. You can nurture friendships by celebrating a coworker's birthday or sharing a joke, building a bond that enables you to talk about your faith. While you may not enjoy every moment on the job, you can take pleasure in much of the work and thank God for that.

But some jobs are just not well matched to your skills and interests. In that case, consider a change. Perhaps God will grant you the gift of enjoying your work in some new setting. You can serve God, even in a secular job, by enjoying his gift. (See also 1 Samuel 14:1-15; Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 15:10-20.)

Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. Ecclesiastes 2:24

Is your work "just a job," or do you truly enjoy it?

Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

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