Yesterday, I watched a news report about the national unemployment rate. The report noted that just over 16 million people are unemployed; that’s 1 out of every 10 Americans. The news anchor, however, proposed that 10% was a modest estimate and did not include the people who simply gave up looking for a job. If you add in those who stopped looking, then the unemployment rate is as high as 17%. Almost 2 Americans out of 10 do not have jobs.
The more I thought about these statistics, I couldn’t help thinking about the people who long to be employed. Think about it – that 17% probably includes people with doctorate, masters, and undergraduate degrees. It probably includes people with more experience and qualifications than I have. It probably includes people who could work more productively than those currently employed. Yet, I have a job that’s extremely gratifying. It’s not that I’m so great; rather, it’s the great God I serve. “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father …” (James 1:17, New Living Translation), and I praise Him for being employed!
Maybe you haven’t considered it this year, but trust me, being employed is a blessing. If you’ve worked at all this year, whether part-time or full-time, thank God for it. Millions of people would love to enjoy the job you’ve been given, so I hope you’ll heed Paul’s advice: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians 3:23, New Living Translation).