Pessimism in Regard to Action or Work:

"Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of faith that God has given to you all."

Romans 12:3, J. B. Philips

 

"What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless."

Ecclesiastes 2:23 NIV

"...our identity must be in our relationship to Jesus Christ, not in what we do or where we work. Here is another reason for avoiding the use of the word calling when we talk about our career aspirations. Misusing the word elevates the importance of work over other aspects of our lives, such as our roles as members of a family or as members of a church community. It makes our employment sacred in a way which distorts our true understanding of our calling. Although God cares about every aspect of our lives, he is especially concerned about our personal relationship with him and the development of our character in the image of Christ; choices of where we live or how we earn a paycheck are much less significant to God."

-- J. Bernbaum & S. Steer, Why Work? Careers and Employment in Biblical Perspective, Baker (1986).


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