The Value of Work

Work is usually associated with a penalty, a punishment, a very bad thing that we are “required” to do. On the other hand, work, for some people, has become a real addiction, sucking up all the time and energy they have available. But what then is the true value of work?

Work can be defined as the set of activities, productive or creative, that the human being performs to achieve a certain end. It is the way we collaborate in God’s creative work and is a fundamental aspect of the human vocation. It is necessary for human fulfillment and happiness, and in it is the responsibility for the administration of all things in the world.

In this way, work must be properly valued as a form of collaboration for the well-being of all and must be performed with the utmost care and responsibility, regardless of its nature. “Any work, however ungrateful, offers the Christian a way of praising God,” teaches Fr. Joseph Kentenich. Children, from an early age, need to learn the proper value of work by doing whatever their parents ask, in the best possible way and without complaint.

This part of doing what should be done without complaining is really not easy. Our tendency is always to look for the most comfortable, the easiest and when we need to employ some kind of effort, the will is to rebel complaining. But once we understand that what we are asked to do can be done as proof of love, it is easier to contain the rebellion of the will. Children usually follow their parents’ example: if they hear their parents grumble, they will grumble; but if they realize that even tired parents do the work with joy, they also learn to see their obligations in the same way.

We can show our love for God and others through the way we do our work, whatever it may be. If we put a good deal of sacrifice into doing our best, we are certainly closer to God and those we are serving with our work.

Of course, work can also be a source of pleasure when we do what we enjoy. In this case, we need to be careful not to fall into the opposite extreme: overvaluing our work and leaving our other responsibilities, such as our relationship with God and our neighbor (especially our family), behind. Therefore, to have a correct relationship with work, we need to ask the following questions:

1. Am I doing this work to the best of my ability, with zeal and diligence, and without procrastination?
2. By dedicating myself to this work, do I also have time to relate to God and to others?
3. Do I do my job willingly, offering sacrifice as a way of showing my love, or do I always complain about fulfilling my obligations?

Let us ask St. Joseph to help us always to fulfill our duties in the way that pleases God most.

*This post is was translated from Portuguese. Original and translated version available at CatholicMom.com.

Copyright 2019 Flávia Ghelardi

Image Copyright: iStock image #635894454. Purchased for use by Family Rosary.

This article was originally published at CatholicMom.com and is shared here with permission.