Cubicles Made of Cedar - THE POKING STICK

Introduction

Reformers, such as Martin Luther, taught that there is dignity in every occupation. This created a concept of community where the cobbler had just as much value as the preacher. Men and women were able to take pride in their work for the glory of God. Work was an act of worship to God. The value in work was not found in the occupation itself, but rather the object of worship — God. However, we live in a culture that is persistent in convincing people that they need the perfect job for it to matter. It has to be in your field, have the best pay and a short commute, have a quick ladder to the top, and make you happy. These expectations are met with the reality that twenty-somethings — fresh out of college — rarely get these jobs. I am one of those twenty-somethings who worked crappy jobs outside of their field. So, I would like to offer a word of encouragement to my fellow twenty-somethings — or whoever — to take with you into the workforce.

Workin 9 to 5 Outside Your Field

Maybe you can relate to this scenario. You are performing a task at work when you think to yourself, “What does this have to do with my degree?” You were an art major who is now answering phones in a call center. Your were an accounting major who is now driving forklifts. Is there anything shameful in call centers or forklifts? Absolutely not! But, we have all probably found ourselves discouraged at the disconnect between what we prepared for and what we are doing. After college, my first job was to walk around my alma mater with one objective — stop the evildoers. My conservative, Christian college insisted on stopping abominations such as hand holding and 5 o’clock shadows, and I would be one of several graduate students to enforce these standards. Woohoo!

I had studied theology and ministry for 4 years, and I was walking around handing out demerits — over hand holding! My work felt meaningless. Can you relate? Before most shifts, I had a knot in my stomach from the dread of going into that job. The job itself was easy, but the work seemed pointless. What was I doing for the Kingdom of God by writing some guy up for wearing Crocs to chapel? I witnessed my co-workers have emotional breakdowns over the way they were treated by either undergraduates or higher-ups. The job sucked the life out of my co-workers and me. Does any of this sound familiar? Do you have the same knots? Does your job feel meaningless? Are you wondering if you are accomplishing anything of eternal value? By the grace of God, I am somewhere new. I am in my field, and I am doing something I love. However, I wish I had learned the lessons I know now back when I was handing out demerits.

From Him, Through Him, and To Him

In Romans 11:35-36, Paul asks a pointed question and follows it with a powerful statement. He asks, “who has given a gift to him [God] that he might be repaid?” Paul then states, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Paul’s question is rhetorical, and his statement is clear. Nobody has given anything to God; therefore, all things must come from God. God is the ultimate Giver of all things. We know that every good and perfect gift is from above (Jas. 1:17). John the Baptist declared that a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven (Jn. 3:27). So, what about that job I hated? According to Scripture, it was from God. The reason I wish I had learned these lessons sooner is because I never saw that job as a gift from God. From my perspective, it was a means to an end, but the reality was that I was working that job because God gave it to me.

Your job is a form of wealth — not just a means to obtain wealth. Everything that is given to us comes with the responsibility to exercise dominion over it. To refuse to do your job because you hate it is a mishandling of the wealth that God has given you. We need to be careful, lest we become like the servant who buried his talents. God gave me a job, and I was responsible to work it to the best of my best abilities. I did not see my job as a gift or as wealth. if anything, I saw that job as a curse. Unfortunately, I inadvertently hated the gift that God had given me, which led me to become apathetic and lazy. So, my first bit of encouragement is that your job begins to find value when you view it as a gift from God. When I started to apply this to my life, the difficult days at work were overshadowed by the joy I found in the gift from God.

If Paul is correct — which he is — then the job you hate is from God. We already covered that God was the source of every single thing we have, and that we are responsible to exercise dominion over those gifts. As we tackle the acceptance of these gifts, Paul gives us the next key to working in undesirable occupations. You job is not just from God, but it is also accomplished through God. Your job may not be difficult work, but it can still be a difficult job. Getting out of bed and driving to a job you do not enjoy can be precisely what makes your occupation difficult. When you wake up, it feels like a ton of bricks is resting on your chest. You begin to wonder if you can go another day — you feel inadequate. Inadequate is exactly where you need to be. When Paul examined his ministry, he asked “Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Cor. 2:16)” Paul knew that he was inadequate for the task at hand, but he was not hopeless. Paul later affirmed that he was not sufficient in himself, but his sufficiency was from God (2 Cor. 3:5). Paul’s calling was from God, and Paul’s sufficiency for his calling was from God. This insufficiency ultimately revealed God’s grace in Paul’s life (2 Cor. 12:9). The same is true for us. God has placed you where you are, and God will enable you where you are.

So, the job you hate is from God and accomplished through God. That leaves a final key to survival from Paul. As we work jobs we hate, we can remember that it is being done for God. When Paul says that all things are to God, he is stating that they are being done unto him (i.e. God is the purpose of our work). We know that everything should be done for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). There are plenty of reasons why we go to work: income, insurance, retirement, etc. However, if our sole purpose for going to work is anything but God glory, then we are serving an idol. Our entire lives should be lived for the glory of God. This is the only sustainable purpose. Temporary motivations can fade away, but eternal purposes carry us to the end. Let’s say you make it to retirement on these other motivations — what will motivate you after retirement? Life does not end after retirement. When everything can be done for God’s glory, then the most mundane tasks find meaning. That stack of paperwork begins to feel like bricks going into the repaired walls of Jerusalem. Those boxes begin to feel like the cedars of Lebanon going up in the Temple. When your motivation is God’s glory, your job finds meaning. From him, through him, and to him are the three statements that make any job survivable and meaningful.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Without a doubt, God has placed us all where we are, but does this mean that you will stay there forever? Feeling trapped can be one of the most difficult parts of difficult jobs. You are probably praying for a way out, but no doors are opening. Do you just accept your fate and whither away behind that desk? The section above is provided to help you to learn how to be content in every situation (Phil 4:11) — but a desire to pursue what you love is not discontentment. God has instilled into you desires and passions. So the question of whether or not you should stay or go is legitimate. You know God has placed you where you are, but God also made you with those passions.

Paul said that “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called (1 Cor. 7:20).” So, you have been called to the job you never wanted to work — Paul says stay there. Does this mean that we conclude that everyone stays put until they die? Not exactly. Paul continues in verse 21 with, “Were you a bond servant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)” You may feel like a slave to your workplace, but Paul does not leave you in bondage. Are you stuck in a job you hate? Do not let this trouble you — but if you can get out, take advantage of the opportunity. The key word here is can. If you have the opportunity to get out, then take it. But if there are no opportunities, then stay put and remember from him, through him, and to him. After some Roman soldiers were converted, they asked John the Baptist what they should do. John responded by telling them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusations, and be content with your wages (Lk. 3:14).” The answer was not to leave their occupation, but rather to stay and do better. Sometimes, our calling is to stay and be the best *insert occupation* we can. Daniel was outside of his field, but was one of the best in Babylon — which led to further service in God’s calling.

Your job is a matter of wisdom. God is the provider of opportunities, but you must exercise wisdom in where you go. The moral imperative in your life is summarized with the statement love God and love your neighbor. When you love God, then you will have a desire to glorify him and obey him — and you will love others while you do it. When you love God, you will love the things of God. When you love the things of God, you have obeyed that moral imperative. However, choosing a job is not a moral issue, but rather a wisdom issue. What you choose to do is really a matter of loving God and doing what you want. So, if you are stuck in a job, consider two things. First, if you cannot get out, then learn contentment — be the best forklift driver you can be for the glory of God. Second, if you can get out, then love God and do what you want.

Conclusion

I understand the frustration of being in a job you do not like, but I am pleading with you to learn these lessons now. Learn them because they will still apply when you have the job you love. The job you love will be from God, through God, and to God. So, do not be troubled, but when the door is open, get out of there! Love God and exercise wisdom, and when you do, go do what you want!