I haven’t always worked as a pastor. Actually, I’ve only had a couple of real jobs in my lifetime.
By a “real job” I mean a job where I’m responsible to someone else to work the hours they prescribe. Years ago, I worked as a collision estimator for Kumler Automotive. I’m not bragging but I picked up the art of collision estimation pretty quickly. “Yep, looks like that big thingie in the front is bent, you’re gonna need a new one.” That was a great place to work. Don’t tell Dean, but I’d have worked there for nothing.
Decades earlier, while still in college I worked for King’s department store where Rose’s is now. The King’s location in Fort Wayne, Indiana, cooperated with the King’s in Lancaster, allowing me to work in Fort Wayne while at college and here at home during the summer months.
One of the cushiest jobs I had was at Colonial Heights Furniture. When I wasn’t helping people pick out new furniture for their homes, I was trying out new leather recliners! I enjoyed it so much, payday felt like stealing.
One of the keys to being happy at work is be passionate about your work. I’ve always been passionate about cars. During the last quarter of the 1900’s, I hammered out a living by working on other people’s hot rods, and I loved that, too. According to my accountant, after taxes and expenses, that was one job in which I was completely successful at working for nothing.
Most of my life, I’ve been fortunate enough to make a living doing things I love. Today, I pastor a church and love it. These wonderful people pay me to study and explain the Scriptures. Truth is, it just doesn’t feel like work. Don’t tell ‘em, but I’d teach for nothing. Then again, after hearing me speak, you might agree that would be fair.
Turning a hobby into a living has always been a part of the American Dream. And in that regard, I’m grateful to be living the dream. Interestingly, the Bible doesn’t seem to have a lot to say about what we do for a living. It does however have a lot to say about what makes us happy. God doesn’t equate income with happiness. He does, however, equate contentedness with hard work. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? I think there’s a well hidden secret here. We aren’t made happy by what we have, but by what we do.
“And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” Ecclesiastes 3:13 New Living Translation
Actually enjoying the fruit of our labor is very different than spending the money we make. A good deal of the New Testament was written by an old tent maker named Paul who espoused this idea centuries ago when he said—
“Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.” Philippians 4:12 The Message
Have you noticed that truly happy people seem to be happy no matter where they are or what they’re doing? My prayer for you is that you’ll find contentment in the things you do.
Read Ron’s column, Simple Faith, each Saturday on the Faith Page (page 3) of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, or visit www.lancastereaglegazette.com.