Do you think it matters what you do for a living?

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Hallelujahhh

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Do you think it matters what you do for a living? Is it wrong to feel like you’re wasting your life and/or talents if you work at a job that anyone could do? People tell me it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it well and for Jesus, but that doesn’t console the fact that my job is boring and doesn’t require any skills, especially when I feel I have skills to offer.
 
I don’t have the answer for you, but there are two parts of Scripture that are brought to mind:

The parable of the talents: Do you think you are burying the talents (charisms) that God has given to you?

The Body of Christ? Are you a big toe and wishing you were some other (more important) part of the Body?

I only ask these questions because I ponder them myself. Take this issue to God in prayer. Ask for guidance. You may not have an answer today, but you will have an answer when the time is right.
 
Hallelujahhh said:
Do you think it matters what you do for a living? Is it wrong to feel like you’re wasting your life and/or talents if you work at a job that anyone could do? People tell me it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it well and for Jesus, but that doesn’t console the fact that my job is boring and doesn’t require any skills, especially when I feel I have skills to offer.
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My job is boring too and I have to constantly keep telling myself that even when I absolutley hate it (yes I know hate is a very strong word and in fact my job is the only thing I ever use that word with), I have to tell myself that this is where God wants me right now. Its very hard and I’m still not used to it and still struggle with it but until its God’s time for me to change I guess I won’t.
 
Hallelujahhh said:
Do you think it matters what you do for a living? Is it wrong to feel like you’re wasting your life and/or talents if you work at a job that anyone could do? People tell me it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it well and for Jesus, but that doesn’t console the fact that my job is boring and doesn’t require any skills, especially when I feel I have skills to offer.
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When you consider that we spend MOST of our lives at work, then I would say it is quite important that we choose our vocations wisely. While it might be necessary to spend time in the “trenches” of terrible jobs (an opportunity to offer it up), we should not be content to wile away our whole lives this way.

I’ve counselled many people on how to find their vocations. Rather than LOOKING for a job, one should strive to create their job. The things we love to do, that we are passionate for and that fulfill us, are all future jobs just waiting for us to create or find them. It’s taken me 40+ years to carve out a niche for myself that allows me to do the work I adore with the skills and talents God gave me. It will not make me rich nor does it offer much security. But it is rewarding and I believe, in accordance with God’s will. Since we look to His will first in all other areas of life, I believe we should consult with Him regarding our livelihoods as well.
 
Whether you should be working at a particular job or not, first goes on what is moral. You couldn’t work at an abortion clinic, or some other place where it would be sinful.

If you find your job easy, there is nothing wrong with that, because God gave you the talent to do the job. As long as
you perform your task to the best of your ability, there is nothing more you must do.

If you find your job boring and not fulfilling, you have to turn to God for the guidance on what to do. Perhaps, he’s calling you to something higher, which will be more challenging for you. If so, the doors to a new career will be open, If not, you’ll be stopped in your tracts. Trust in God is the key here.

Myself, I’m currently bored stiff, because most of the good projects are now being sent to China. At 56 years of age, a career change is not in the works. I could change jobs, and do the same thing I’m doing now at another company, which might have more projects for me to work on, but the financial loss of leaving my current job, before they get rid of me, would be too great. So, basically, I’m trying to survive as long as I can, until I hit retirement age, which I hope will be 62.

Jim
 
AngelRose, If you hate your job, I would strongly suggest you find another. If you are that unhappy with it, I doubt it is what God is calling you to. I know of what I speak. I have been doing essentially the same job for different employers for the last 10 years. I have not been happy anywhere and have finally come to the conclusion that it is not who I am working for that is bothering me, but what I am doing. It is not immoral or anything, but I am increasingly convinced that it is not what God wants me to be doing.

If you dislike your work, it will show forth in the quality of your work, no matter how hard you try to not let it. I would encourage you to pray that God would show you a different path, to allow you to move forward into work that you find more rewarding.
 
Even jobs you like have much to bore you in them…:whacky:
In the arts you may say work is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration.

Think of the money if all else fails.
Get a hobby.
Get married.
Become a saint.
 
Sounds like you should read some St. Josemaria Escriva and check out Opus Dei.
 
Hallelujahhh said:
Do you think it matters what you do for a living? Is it wrong to feel like you’re wasting your life and/or talents if you work at a job that anyone could do? People tell me it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it well and for Jesus, but that doesn’t console the fact that my job is boring and doesn’t require any skills, especially when I feel I have skills to offer.
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First, are you happy in your job? Right now - with the job market and economy as bad as it is - I’d tell you be glad you’ve got a job…I’ve been unemployed way too long - and I’ve got skills.

Second, before jumping into the unknown with those skills you have, look around at the instability of the market - and realize there’s no such thing as job security, tenure - nothing. The fact that they’re hiring today doesn’t mean there won’t be massive layoffs in a month.

Stick with the security you have unless you’ve been offered something solid. Many with skills - are unemployed. Use your skills in volunteering those skills in some way. This way you’ll feel you’re not wasting your talents, if that’s what concerns you - but you’ll still be drawing in a much-need paycheck - not gambling on the unknown. I’d be so afraid to leave a job right now – if I had one, that is.😦
 
I don’t know what it is that you do…but I know that alot of people that work in the service industry (retail, fast food, restaurants, gas stations, etc) feel like they are working a dead end job and could be doing something so much better. They feel as if there isn’t possibly anyway they can serve God in that job.

Well, I heard something on a radio program (Dave Ramsey) that was quite uplifting. The guest was saying that we should be honored to work in the service industry and that it is a wonderful outlet in which to serve God. You shouldn’t be ashamed to serve others because after all, Christ served others.

By working in customer service-you have a unique opportunity to reach out to so many people. A smile, a kind word or a joke can do so much for someone who is having a bad day.

The Bible says that (I’m paraphrasing here because it’s been a long time since I read that passage and I don’t remember where it is) in everything you do-you should do as if you are doing it for the Lord. Even if you are “just” a slave…that you should rejoice and be glad.

Another thing to consider is the blessing you could be to your coworkers. A LOT of people who work in what’s considered dead end jobs are unhappy, down on their luck or have no faith in themselves. They usually come from low income backgrounds, are less educated…many are single parents and some just really aren’t as “smart” or “talented” as others. Sometimes they are ex-cons who cannot find any other employment.

Let me clarify something real quick…I am not saying that I have low opinion of people who work those “dead end” jobs…I just know from all the dead end jobs that I’ve worked at-most people fall into one of those categories (usually single parents and/or disadvantaged backgrounds…I myself fall into the ‘no faith in myself’ category…but also, my husband supports us with his paycheck and I just work for fun).

The best thing you can do is pray…ask God if this is what he wants you to do to earn your wages. If it is, then ask God for the patience and strength to do your job with a glad heart and to be a blessing for his sake to those around you. If you feel God is preparing you for something else, again, ask him for the grace to be joyful for the time being and the wisdom to know what to do next.

Peace to you.
 
Read some books from St. Jose Maria Escriva and opus dei and the things they teach in terms of work.
 
And remember Venerable Solanus Casey, who worked for decades in lowly jobs such as porter (door attendant) at different friaries in the New York area. Surely his tasks were lowly, but it didn’t prevent him achieving great sanctity of life.
 
How sure are you that anybody could do your job? Quite possibly it only seems so to you because you have become good at it. I remember a poster in another thread saying that, to him, shoeing horses is easy because he knows how to do it and does do it. To me, it would not be easy at all, and I seriously doubt I would ever succeed at doing it…

I have often wondered why it is that people spend year and years becoming good at something only to somehow come to believe the job is unworthy of their talents and change to something they can’t do particularly well.

I sometimes find myself thinking anyone could do what I do, though no outside observer would say that. I wonder sometimes if that’s some kind of temptation to cause me to remove myself from providing a service that people value to the degree that they will (manifestly) part with their hard-earned cash to have me do. People do not part with cash readily. If they didn’t need the service, they wouldn’t pay me to do it. That’s quite a compliment when one thinks about it. I remind myself of that sometimes.
 
Hallelujahhh said:
Do you think it matters what you do for a living? Is it wrong to feel like you’re wasting your life and/or talents if you work at a job that anyone could do? People tell me it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it well and for Jesus, but that doesn’t console the fact that my job is boring and doesn’t require any skills, especially when I feel I have skills to offer.
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Jesus tells us in the scriptures that “he who cannot give up their life for Him are not worthy of Him”.
again, “you cannot have two masters you will hate one and love the other”.

Therefore it matters internally ( in the spirit) to all of us, how much we will give compared to how much Jesus has given us.
We must remember that as Jesus tells us, that to one much is given and to another little is given either way Jesus tells us that “to he who much is given much is expected”, which would tell us that we are not given less than what is expected back . For God is a ballanced God in every way.

Godbless
 
I used to think what one does for a living was one of the most important things in life, but my perspective has changed recently. Now I think that if you are lucky enough to have a job you like, you should be counting your blessings.

It’s not that I hate my job - I love it most days. I find it really rewarding. However, a lot of people I associate with have a very different attitude toward work than I do. My boyfriend works in a factory, printing books. He and his friends work not for their own satisfaction, but for the well-being of their families. It’s a different feeling to think that this week’s work paid for Grandmother’s cancer treatment. Today’s shift bought his nephew a school uniform. Does my boyfriend enjoy his job? No, he hates it. He feels proud of getting up every morning and offering up his labour for the benefit of his family and his future. Will he eventually leave his job? Absolutely. However, in looking for a new one, he knows there’s no shame in doing an honest day’s work doing something unglamourous that just needs to get done.

I hope that before we get married he can find a job that pays well and that he enjoys, but I know that he has the courage and the work ethic to do what it takes to look after his loved ones.
 
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