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The Intrinsic Value of Work Have you ever noticed that a job well done commands respect and that those whose work is unworthy of respect lack credibility? Who is going to believe a sloppy worker or even a person without a career or trade? Instinctively we listen to people who have a good reputation, who are successful in their jobs. If a doctor is good at what he does and well thought of by patients, he has our ear. But this is not so if he is a derelict with his work and there are complaints about him. We have a choice: either develop ourselves or destroy ourselves. Work is very important. It is valuable, and if properly done, it develops a person, makes him a co-creator with God, and helps him love his neighbor. We are born naked in body and mind and we form ourselves in part through the things that we do and how we do them. We can act responsibly and educate ourselves to do well at what we do. As a consequence, we will enjoy a good reputation and the credibility that goes with it. We are body and soul. We have intelligence and will and we can develop these faculties or destroy them. The engineer who is responsible, who works hard and makes a study of how he can do a better job, is also a more complete person who, at the end of his life, is going to know he has accomplished something. If we develop our gifts and talents we can be co-creators with God. God created the world and gave it to us human beings so we can, so to speak, keep on creating the world with Him. We are secondary causes in creation. Who designs airplanes so beautiful and reliable? God? Engineers? It is God who gives engineers their intelligence, enabling them to cooperate with Him to produce something useful. It's marvelous how the airplane industry has progressed in the last 50 years and it keeps progressing. Similarly when it comes to the production of houses and clothing. God does it through man's intelligence. And when man uses his intelligence to help the world progress, he is helping people. The world is man's house. WE are co-creating the world with God. In this co-creation, it is clear that the one who is responsible, the one who is doing a good job is the one co-creating with God. The one who isn't co-creating with God, is the one who isn't doing a good job. The world, like a magnificent computer, is very complicated and each piece in the computer has an important function. We need presidents of countries. We need presidents of banks. We also need the men and women who clean our streets and wait on tables. What about a person who just puts nails in shoes? What kind of a life is that? All they do is pound nails. One could say their life is useless. But we need such people, for without them there would be no shoes and walking would be rather difficult. Now a job can be done because we have to do it ' strictly for the salary. Many hate their job and as a result are unhappy. If only they could see that all work has intrinsic value. In Rome, i would sometimes sweep the streets. Those passing by would ask, 'Why are you doing that? You are a priest.' 'Well, the streets need to be cleaned,' i said. This is how i practice charity, how i show love of neighbor, and there is a certain satisfaction in it. The intrinsic value of work is twofold. First, it gives the opportunity for the worker to develop himself in his knowledge, skill and command. Secondly, be developing himself, the worker will be co- creating with God, which in turn, will be a service to other people. |