Editorial: July - August 2008

Occupation has become the primary criterion for assessing personal worth – we are what we do. The problem is: many of us do not like what we do. Job satisfaction is really a rare experience in the competitive world today.

“Take this job and shove it,” is probably what many people would like to do. “Take this job and love it?” Either you have no ambition or you have no choice. Or you really do have a dream job.

Yet, no matter what, consider the sacrifices we lay at the feet of our careers: blood, sweat, and tears! It’s a war out there and we have to fight to survive. So why work? Various cultures and philosophies offer different perspectives. Marxism proclaims, “Workers of the world unite!” and deifies work and the workers. By means of work, poverty can be alleviated and the socialist state glorified. On the other hand, Capitalism promotes the pursuit of self-interest, which in turn contributes to the common good of society. So productivity is highly prized and praised.

What then is the Christian perspective of work and career? How can we avoid worshipping at the altar of work and career? After all, like everyone else, Christians are not immune to the dazzle of wealth, the splendor of a luxury home, and the sparkle of a BMW – all of which are only possible if we work hard, smart, and fast! Unless of course, if you are fortunate (pun intended) to be born with a certain kind of spoon or if you espouse an ascetic lifestyle.

So on the one hand, we have the workaholics. They don’t just work hard; they work compulsively. On the other hand, we have the shirkaholics – those who work ever so hard at avoiding work! In between are the rest of us who are constantly struggling to strike that impossible balance between work, family, and social life. And hoping to find at the same time meaning and purpose in working for our hard-earned pay.

You may like to know that our Lord Jesus was a carpenter by trade. The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. And God Himself works too. And they all loved their work!

Why work? Well, why not?

Michael Tan
Editor



Start by getting some answers regarding your career by reading our cover story, Is There A Perfect Job For Me?