All about our work

I want to write today something about our work and work places.Many of us are going through great agony either because of too much pressure of work or for the lack of challenging assignments which drives us into a state of low self esteem.Some of the thoughts that swing across our minds are

1. Can I change my organization?
2. Can I ask for a change in the current organization itself?
3. Can I wait for some more time?

These three questions predominantly run aross our thoughts most of the time.Before, we start analyzing these, I want to refer to a beautiful verse spoken by the wisest and the most intelligent man who has ever lived on earth. He had everything he wanted and enjoyed everything, and King Solomon says in Ecclesiastes chapter 2

"17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."

We see it is very clear that the satisfaction is not achieved by any of our efforts, but it is a gift from God. Listen to me very carefully, we cannot find satisfaction by ourselves in any of the things that we do, and it has to be presented to us by God. In verse 26, we find that God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the one who pleases Him.

Having said this, let us now go back to our questions. Work is something which is given to us by God. It was one of the curses that Adam took upon when he disobeyed God, and it was something that God permitted. In the Bible we find a lot of things being said about work and this ushers us to take work seriously. Jesus was a hard worker, as he helped Joseph in the early days of his life with carpentery. It is God who gives us the work, and He expects us to do it faithfully, and in turn He rewards us with satisfaction. This is the sequence and if understood in the right way would wipe of so many confusions.

Why does God put us at unfavourable conditions at work sometimes?.Why there is pain and anguish at work?.The reason is all very simple, we are not yet fully prepared to do the work. Either we lack the skills to do it, or we dont have the right attitude towards work and He wants us to change. We see in Joseph's life he was put through so many difficulties before he became a governor. God's training is much different from the world's and it is perfect. He can see through our motives and intentions.If we successfully pass the test, He would exalt us and give the desires of our heart.

Practical things to be done :

1. Examine to find if you are lacking something that is required to do the work in the field that you are currently in.
2. Are you giving the right place to God? Do you think of your work more than God?
3. What is your attitude towards work? Do you consider everything as if done for God?
4. Are you procastinating, lazy, and irresponsible at work?

If you are at fault at any of these, ask for repentance, and commit yourselves to Him, who would transform your personality and grant you the desires of your heart.

If a job change has to be done, He will do it in His time.