HOW TO ENJOY HARD WORK

"Everyone should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all his hard work. It is the gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 3:13) If God wanted us to enjoy our work, is it not logical  that he would show us how to find such joy?  (Isaiah 48:17) Thankfully, he does-through the pages of his Word, the Bible.  Consider the following Bible-based advice for finding satisfaction in your work. 

CULTIVATE A POSITIVE VIEW OF WORK

Whether your work is most mental, mostly physical, or somewhere in between, recognize "there is benefit in every kind of hard work."  (Proverbs 14:23)  What sort of benefit? For one thing, hard work helps us to care for our material needs. True, God promises to provide for the needs of those who sincerely worship him.  (Matthew 6:31, 32) But he also expects us to do our part by diligently trying to earn an honest living. -2 Thessalonians 3;10. 

Thus, we can view our work as a means to an end. Work is an honorable way to care for our responsibilities.  "Providing for yourself is an accomplishment," says 25-years-old Joshua.  "If you are able to pay for what you need, then your work is doing what it is suppose to do." 

Moreover, hard work is just that-hard. When we discipline ourselves to stick with  our work-even if it seems boring or difficult-we can have the satisfaction of knowing that we held ourselves to a high standard. We have won a victory over the inclination  to take the easy way out.  (Proverbs 26:14) In that sense, work brings an intense feeling of satisfaction.  "I love the feeling I have after a long day of work," says Aaron, quoted in the preceding article.  "I may be exhausted-and my work might have even gone unnoticed by others-but I know that I've accomplished something." 

Next time: HOW TO ENJOY YOUR WORK/APPLY YOURSELF TO YOUR WORK

From the Watchtower magazine, 1015