Several times at work today, I heard the same thing I hear every Thursday: “At least it’s Friday tomorrow,” or something of that nature. And, I’ll admit, I’m guilty of making a celebratory remark or two about the impending weekend.
The other day, a friend shared some verses with me that I’ve been thinking a lot about:
“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart” Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Is it just me, or does “finding enjoyment in toil” sound like a paradox? Merriam-Webster actually defines toil as “long strenuous fatiguing labor,” which doesn’t sound enjoyable to me at all.
But one thing I’ve found since I started working in a cubicle for 40-plus hours a week is that finding enjoyment in my labor has little to do with the labor itself and much more to do with my attitude toward it. If all I can think about is how much I wish the weekend was here, I’m not going to find enjoyment in my work no matter how much I like my job.
In general, people are always looking to the next thing: the next stage in life, the next promotion, the next possession, the next weekend. If only I can get to that next thing, then I’ll be happy. But if we’re always looking to the next thing, how can we ever enjoy the here and now?
In Colossians 3:23-24, Paul writes, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
If we truly had an attitude like Paul’s we would always find enjoyment in our toils, no matter what day of the week it is. And we would stop looking to the next thing because knowing Christ would be enough.
