I do it already. This prompt caught my attention because my job is: I raise the people God has loaned me as children. It doesn’t pay. And I would make the choice to stay home and raise them over and over again, because it was a hard choice and one I’ve thought through enough times to know that Yes, despite struggling with my mental health and really enjoying my work prior and questioning my every move I make as a parent… yes. It always ends in yes.

I would argue that whatever vocation you’re undertaking should be one you would do without pay, because God is the Provider. We don’t work for pay, we work for the joy of serving. And this I have believed my entire working career which started out as a full-time breakfast cook at Burger King. I held that position for five years, not as a part time worker but full time as my only source of income. And it was greasy and unthanked and looked down upon, but I was grateful and I enjoyed it. Not because I’m some superhuman, but because I learned early what a blessing it is to work. Watching close family struggle with their inabilities to work has made me grateful. And when you go into your work grateful for the ability to do it, it fundamentally changes your attitude.

For the Christian, there is no “paid” and “unpaid” labor. We are all called to good works, and our vocation is just one of those good works. God is the one who provides.

Thanks for listening. May you be blessed this Holy Saturday.