Job Satisfaction

Job Satisfaction

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10

Work is good. Work is necessary. Work should be a reflection of our God-given talents, abilities, and passions. Work should be fun.

My good friend Tony Evans, a pastor in Dallas, says we were created to work. “Before Adam had Eve, he had a job,” he says. Work is good. Adding value is positive. Using the gifts and abilities God designed within us is good. Being compensated for using them in a productive way that benefits others is not only good, but the means God gave us to be self-sufficient and able to help others.

“What am I going to do with my life?” is a question we all ask. A lot of times we think we’re trying to figure out our careers when we’re really trying to figure out our purposes. I’ve seen it often in high school and college students as they think about what they want to do in life. The bigger question isn’t what we’re going to do but why we’re going to do it. And we need to answer it not in terms of activity but in terms of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

I’ve had at least seven different employers in the sports industry, and not all of them have hired me to do the same thing. I’ve been a player, a coach, and an analyst. You’ve probably performed different jobs too. What you’re doing today probably isn’t what you’ve always done and probably isn’t what you’ll always do in the future. People who have been in one line of work for their entire career are rare. But people who know their purpose in life will never become obsolete.

Before you decide what to do, figure out what your purpose is. Then decide what to do—how to accomplish that purpose—not on the basis of money, convenience, or availability, if possible, but on the basis of what you’re passionate about. Sure, there are times when you have to just “get by.” But make those times temporary. Use your gifts, pursue your passions, and work toward your purposes. When you do that, you’ll find that work isn’t a burden but a gift from God. And it can be a key to living a fulfilling life.

It’s great to love your work and a blessing to enjoy it.

Uncommon Key > Work—make it an extension of who God made you to be.