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2014-02-06

Secret Church

Secret Church


Rethinking “Do What You Love”

Posted: 05 Feb 2014 10:01 PM PST

1285_wpm_hiresAt some point or another, we’ve probably all heard or read the phrase, “Do what you love, love what you do.” In a recent article, Miya Tokumitsu waged war against it.

Of all the reasons she was opposed to the “Do what you love” (DWYL) mantra, one seemed to ring true: this mentality can be self-centered. In Tokumitsu’s words, “While DWYL seems harmless and precious, it is self-focused to the point of narcissism.” According to her, it applies only to the working elite who use it as they ignore the vast number of people who make possible their superior status by working the “unlovable” jobs that support them. Even if you disagree with Tokumitsu’s reasoning, she may be right that DWYL can easily turn into a cute disguise for “Whatever makes me happy.”

Tokumitsu is onto something. Maybe the DWYL attitude I embraced over the years is not be as helpful as I assumed it was. However, I think there is a distinct difference between “Do what you love” and “Love what you do.” While we should be careful about placing too much value into “Doing what we love” and subsequently acting solely out of our own selfish interests, I think everyone should pursue “loving what they do.” Contrary to Tokumitsu’s assumption that some work is inherently “unloveable,” I believe that all work has the capacity to be “lovable” through Christ. Passages like Colossians 3:23-24, and Genesis 2:15 (pre-Fall) make it clear that work is ordained by God and therefore valuable to Him. Laborers, then, can work to please God, making it a “lovable” and God-glorifying endeavor.

So follow Tokumitsu’s advice and give up the tired, old “Do what you love” ideology. Instead, through Christ, love what you do.

Work is a topic that will be covered in the upcoming Secret Church, The Cross and Everyday Life. You can get more information about the Secret Church simulcast and register for it HERE.

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