Article August 6, 2007 Issue

Work that truly pays well

BY THOMAS RICHARD MITCHINSON

When I was in college, I took a part-time job to help pay expenses. On two specific occasions, the income from the job wasn't adequate to help defray my increasing college costs. In each case, I prayed about the situation and came to see it as an opportunity to better understand my identity as God's child, and to witness His love and direction for me.

I began learning that work had less to do with my financial circumstances, and more with how I answered these spiritual questions: Could I express spiritual qualities more completely on the job? Could I trust in God's constant care? In other words, could I actually work for God?

The first time my pay became inadequate, my prayers showed me that I needed to be more committed to doing God's will, and to be more joyful, loving, and honest in my job. I worked at doing just that, and a few days later, I was told my hourly pay would be raised. With the raise, I was able to meet my immediate needs. The second time I faced a shortfall, the thought came to me strongly that I should ask for a pay raise. I continued to pray about this idea to make sure I wasn't acting willfully but was being divinely led. When the intuition persisted, I did ask for a raise, and it was graciously given.