I Just Work for the Money

Ultimately working only for money is never enough compensation for investing our time and energy. We all need a fulfilling job.

“Law school sucked all the life and creativity out of me.” 

“I’ve never been happy practicing law.” 

“I’ve never had a sense of purpose.” 

“I feel destined to do something great, but have no idea why or what.” 

“I am working only for money.”

These are statements from a young attorney – who in his last position had been sick for 6 months, “triggered initially by stress.”  But a new “career opportunity” presented itself and he is now working in a prestigious position with a Fortune 500 company.  Unfortunately, the sickness is returning, starting with the symptoms of a choking feeling and shortness of breath.

Ultimately, money is never enough compensation for investing our time and energy. 

We all need a fulfilling job with a sense of meaning, purpose and accomplishment.  Anything that does not blend our Values, Dreams and Passions will cause us on some level to choke.  Recent events have caused all of us to “reassess what’s important.” 

A life well lived must go beyond just making a paycheck – even if it’s a very large one.

The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 5:10; “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.”  If money is the only reward of your job, you will begin to see deterioration in other areas of your life – physically, emotionally, spiritually, and in your relationships.

I have been working with a corporate executive – whose salary after 21 years with the same company is in excess of $330,000.  In the process of taking a “life inventory” she says she is “waking up to things that are important to me” for the very first time.  The intense focus on work has caused her to miss many deposits of success in other areas of her life.

In Daniel Pink’s book, Drive, he lists three things people need to be happy in their work:

1. Autonomy
2. Mastery
3. Purpose

Make sure that any new job opportunities you are considering don’t just offer you more money but also give you these other things.

P. S.  I have to add an interesting side note. 

Proper alignment in doing work we love and having a fulfilling job does not mean the family will be eating rice and beans – in fact, the opposite is more often what I see occur.  I have worked with many people who have increased their income by 4-5 times as they moved into the freedom of finding God’s authentic path for their work and lives. 

Proper alignment releases not only a sense of peace and accomplishment, but money is likely to break in on you like an exploding flood of fresh water.

Principles and Examples in 48 Days To The Work You Love