Can people who hate their job find meaning in their work?

Last updated on: May 15, 2015 at 10:30 am by Made to Flourish

Can people who hate their job find meaning in their work? 2015-05-13T11:30:29-05:00 Made to Flourish

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By Trevor Lee

I had the opportunity to attend a Leadership Journal event called Redeeming Work, which focused on the meaning and importance of our work as image bearers of God. Events like this focus on the idea of vocation, which is our call into every part of life, not just the job we get paid for. While this focus does not comprise the whole of the Christian life or the Gospel, it is an essential piece that has been too often ignored. In fact, I have personally been deeply moved and shaped by these conversations on vocation.

One question routinely raised at such events is whether this is a conversation of privilege that only applies to those who are able to choose their jobs and find themselves in a place of some influence, or if it applies to those who don’t and can’t. This question is framed in relation to two groups of people: those who hate their jobs and those in positions of relatively little influence. Can people who hate their jobs and those who are in positions of relatively low influence find meaning in their work? There are reasons to think they can – and should.

We are made to work.

Work is not something people were cursed with. It is part of the gift of being human! People are made in the image of God and from the first chapter of Genesis we are presented with a God who works. He brings all of reality into being, and then gives humanity the work of cultivating and tending his creation. Working is a fundamental aspect of what it means to be human. This work does not have to be paid. This work does not have to be chosen. And this work does not even need to be liked. In fact, not engaging in work is destructive to the humanity and dignity of people. I’ve seen this firsthand.

All work benefits others–it contributes to the common good.

Other than work that is obviously destructive and sinful, all work benefits others.

Some jobs are more obviously beneficial than others. A doctor restores health to sick people. A teacher educates children, giving them hope for the future. But what about the man who sits in a cubicle and enters data day after day? What about the woman works in a call center fielding calls from angry customers? The importance of their work may seem easier to question than a doctor or a teacher.

However, if you spend a little time considering how their work impacts others, it is not too difficult to see the value it adds to society. The man who enters data is enabling the execution of projects that would not happen without him. The woman answering phones is finding ways to make things work the way they are meant to and has the opportunity to help people move from frustration to joy if she is willing. The ability to see these things requires that we don’t make an exact correlation between meaning and happiness (I’ll touch on that more in a minute).

We all have influence.

Some people and some professions have more influence on other people and the world than others. That is true. But this fact does not negate the influence of all people and professions on the world. Every person can influence the day of whomever they come across by the way they treat them. Each employee can seek to give feedback at some level, even if it seems small.

Take Jim as an example. He was a friend from a previous church who spent his days pushing a grocery cart around to dumpsters, digging out metal, and then walking it over two miles to the recycling center. Not exactly a job bursting with opportunities for influence. But Jim regularly had stories of the lives he impacted along the way. Not to mention the significant amount of metal he kept from going to landfills over time. Jim believed he could influence things, even if it seemed small to others. We may wish for more influence believing we have none or we can steward whatever measure of influence we’ve been given.

Meaning and Happiness are NOT the Same

Being happy about your work and finding meaning in it are not the same thing. It is possible to find meaning in something you do not enjoy. Finding meaning is likely to increase your level of enjoyment, but it is not a necessary correlation. If the question is, “Can everyone love their job?” the answer might legitimately be no. But if the question is, “Can everyone find meaning in their work?” I believe the answer is yes. (Again, excluding work that is inherently unethical or destructive.) Answering yes may be a long journey, and perhaps a slow one, but it is one worth taking.

For All People

So can people who hate their jobs and those who are in positions of relatively low influence find meaning in their work? Absolutely. One of the roles of the pastor is to help people see the immense purpose in their work—especially when they hate it. Especially when they feel like they’re just treading water. All people have been created in the image of God, and all people are given the call from God to bear that image well in and through their work. Too many people feel that is impossible. For their sake and the good of the world, it is important that we help them understand the truth.

This post originally appeared at the blog Made to Flourish. Image: MTF.

Faith and the Workplace

Previous Post

May 13, 2015

Coltrane and calling: a message for jazz appreciation month

Next Post

May 16, 2015 Let your life speak: how to understand your vocational call

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Audio posts Bible and Work Book Review Books Budgeting Calling Common Good Community Development Conferences Discipleship Economics Entrepreneurship Ethics Faith and Family Faith and the Marketplace Faith and the Workplace faith and work History of Work and Vocation Leadership Local Church Meaning New Blogger News Prayer Relationships Seminaries Theology of Work Uncategorized Video posts Vocation Worship Resources

Select a Month April 2026 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 April 2025 January 2025 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 August 2023 July 2023 April 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Revelation, how many lampstands does John see?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Four lampstands Seven golden lampstands Twelve lampstands Ten lampstands