Should Christians engage in jobs that do not make them happy, or wait patiently until the right one comes along? According to Desiring God founder John Piper, being happy with one's job is all about employing the right perspective.
"God does not like begrudging, joyless service," Piper said as he quoted Psalms 100:2 in his podcast. "But I think the implication in the Bible is not mainly that we should refuse to work until we find the work that we think we can enjoy, but that we should take the work that we can for the good of the family, the good of the community, the glory of God, and then pray our way into the enjoyment of it and shape it in whatever way we can so that it becomes more fruitful and more enjoyable."
Piper explained that God sincerely cares whether or not His people enjoy the work they have been given. However, it is up to the people themselves to enjoy their God-given professions.
"God intends to give his people joy and thankfulness and a sense of usefulness whatever he calls them to," said Piper. "This is the essence of the Christian life: finding contentment in Christ and turning every circumstance and all of our work into living worship."
The secret to finding joy, of course, lies with finding God first. Piper shared the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 7:24, which says: "So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, let him there remain with God."
According to him, the key words there are "with God," which simply means that "whatever work we have, the greatest joy about the job is that we get to be there with God. He has come to us. He is with us every day. Whatever we are doing, he is there. He will help us. He will turn it for our good."
