What's the one thing that every employee wants? A raise. While not all people will admit it, deep down inside of us each is a desire for a bigger paycheck. There's nothing wrong with that, and if you've worked hard you probably deserve it. But to think that more money will equate to more satisfaction never adds up. What's Jesus' strategy of fulfilment when it comes to your vocation?
A study published by Forbes shows data compiled by job-search website Glassdoor on job satisfaction and pay. While it appeared at first that an increase in pay was always met by an increase in job ratings, Glassdoor data analyst Mario Nunez recorded a "a diminishing return to happiness for every $1,000 in earnings."
It would seem crazy to think that more money would equate to no increase in satisfaction or even a decline in it, but it seems more and more that that's how human nature is. Bigger paychecks may sound nice at first, but more of something will always lead to more responsibility, which could often lead to more stress and pressure.
While there is nothing wrong with money, science seems to back up the Bible in urging us to "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have..." (ESV, Hebrews 13:5a). Money can help you and will probably bring more luxuries and temporal comforts, but the soul searches for something much deeper than earthly riches.
Ultimately, here is what I believe and what I'm sure you believe as well: More purpose and meaning will always sound better than more money. That's why God encourages us in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (ESV). God wants us to seek out purpose, and He assigns provision for it accordingly.
I've seen many people make way less than what top executives do while still being filled with satisfaction and happiness. Why? Because God created us to be creatures of purpose. When He created Adam, He first gave Him a purpose (be fruitful and multiply) and then provided for Him (the Garden of Eden).
I'm not saying that big paychecks are bad. By God's grace, I hope you get a raise when a raise is due, but let us not make the mistake of attaching our job satisfaction to it. In the end, satisfaction comes when we know what we are doing and who we do it for, and ultimately it is Jesus Christ who is the source of all passion and also the ultimate goal of our professions.
Colossians 3:23–24 tells us, "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" (ESV).
