Talented but Unemployed? God May Be Calling You to Grubby, Unglamorous Work

Last updated on: November 21, 2014 at 2:13 am by Acton Institute

Talented but Unemployed? God May Be Calling You to Grubby, Unglamorous Work 2014-11-21T02:13:22-04:00 Acton Institute

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 Jonathan Witt

A recent Wall Street Journal story looks at the “millions of working-age men” sidelined by the economic slump, and warns that “the longer they’re out of work, the more their skills deteriorate and the harder it is to land the next job.”

“Those who can’t find work often turn to safety net programs, such as food stamps, unemployment benefits and disability — programs that have ballooned since the recession began,” the article continues. “Once people start receiving disability benefits, they rarely leave the program.”

The take home: take any ethical job. Consider self-employing yourself, offering to do work others find unpleasant. Some potential employers in your preferred career may look down on you for having done grubby work, but others will admire your willingness to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty while you’re waiting for a job in your chosen field.

The Bible condemns willful idleness and enjoins us to labor so that we can have the means to help those truly in need. If after pursuing any ethical job available, you’re still underemployed, cut your living expenses to the bone, minimize your use of the government dole, and use your idle week days to volunteer long hours doing something beneficial for society, including time on your knees in intercessory prayer.

The Christian community talks so much about pursuing your vocational passion and calling that we often neglect that gritty reality that sometimes God uses circumstances to call us into work that doesn’t use all of our talents, but instead exercises our fortitude, selflessness, and humility.

I remember when I was 22. I was graduating from college with honors and with a paid summer internship under my belt, but I couldn’t find work in my chosen field right away. Instead of waiting around for a job in my field, I sewed together three part-time jobs–night watchman, pizza delivery man, and painting a house. My dad had drilled into me the importance of hard work, whether glamorous or not, beginning with my summers as a teenager scraping up acres of tile in schools all across the Texas Panhandle for Witt Flooring. None of them paid well. None of them used my higher ed skills. All of them were “good jobs” because they served others in beneficial ways.

So go find a “good job,” any good job. If part of your week days are still empty, use resources on the internet or at the town library to begin developing a self-employment skill (though steer clear of the “get rich quick” schemes that scammers love to peddle). In sum, avoid an idle lifestyle. If you don’t think this is a biblical mandate, re-read the book of Proverbs or the apostle Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians.

If necessary, “Go West, young man , to one of the business-friendly states where so many of the new jobs are being created nowadays. The move doesn’t have to be permanent.

The Creator made us in his image to be creative, and any kind of creative labor–even creating clean bathrooms out of dirty ones–is honorable work in the eyes of God. And God’s eyes see clearer and further than anyone’s.

(Originally published at the Acton PowerBlog)

Economics

Vocation

Work

Previous Post

November 19, 2014

Knowledge: Something or Someone?

Next Post

November 25, 2014 Blue Laws and Black Friday

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Charity Church Common Grace Culture Curriculum Economics Education Family Justice Order Theology Uncategorized Vocation Wisdom Wonder Work

Select a Month 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Isaiah see in his vision in Isaiah 6?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A burning bush The Lord seated on His throne A chariot of fire A ladder to heaven