Dignity of Work

I'm going to try to make this post short.  "Dignity of work" can mean a variety of things. It's a term used by politicians when discussing the importance of finding work for the unemployed and growing the economy.  It's a term used by pastors and theologians to discuss how our vocational callings mesh with our primary calling to serve God and others.  It also conveys the idea that there is a dignity to all work. I haven't read enough to know all the meanings; I'm sure there are more.

In December 2012, my pastor Tim Keller was on MSNBC's Morning Joe to publicize his new book "Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work".  You can see the clip below:

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Quotation: "When you make your work your identity, which of course is what we are invited to do in our culture now…you identify with your work, and that means if you are successful it destroys you because it goes to your head. If you are not successful it destroys you because it goes to your heart, and it destroys your self-worth; and what you need with faith is that it gives you an identity that is not in work or accomplishment, and that gives you insulation against the weather changes. So if you are successful you stay humble; if you are not successful you have some ballast…making your work your identity — kind of an idol, to use biblical terminology — is maybe the big sin of New York City."

I never thought of myself struggling with the idolatry of work, mainly because I cared so little about work.  In my mind, idolizing your work looked like the guy who works long hours, is constantly away on business, and is constantly thinking about ways to climb the corporate ladder at the expense of his family, his church, and his friends.  That isn't me.  When I was working in banking, I was never really proud of it.  Quite frankly, I felt sort of sheepish. It was something I was a bit apologetic about. "Yeah, I'm the scum of the earth who works in banking and makes tons of money.  Sorry. I'm still a genuine Christian, really. Sorry." (Sidebar: I don't really think banking is inherently anti-thetical to a good Christian life. I'm just trying to convey a sentiment.)

But, anyway, a more robust and nuanced understanding of work idolatry is tying your self-worth and identity to work.  And in this way, I realized that I probably struggle with it just as much as everyone else.  I noticed this, not when I had a job, but when I didn't have one. In the months I was unemployed, there were a few genuine moments where I felt sad and depressed, probably I think, because I felt a lack of self-worth at not having a job.  I put it on myself.  Paranoid, I perceived to feel it from others.

As people, created in the image of God, we were built to work - to use our unique God-given gifts and talents for his glory and in service to others. And, as Eric Liddell said, to feel God's pleasure.  I definitely hope to experience more of this in my new job.  To produce excellent work.  To manage with a servant-like concern and attitude.  To learn with deep curiosity. And to feel God's pleasure.

There is a true dignity to work that is separate from idolatry.  I hopefully came out of this process with a better understanding of that.  I definitely have a greater appreciation for how easily the unemployed can feel depressed, bitter, resentful, useless, discouraged, etc. Work can be an idol, whether we have have a job or not.  Work can be an idol, whether we're working too much, or too little, or even just an average amount of hours.  Work can be an idol, whether we use it to think highly of ourselves, or feel depressed about our current station.  May God be our God, and work be our servant, to God's glory.