Chapter 4: Work as Worship: Bringing Meaning to Work Through an Integrated Faith

The quest for meaning is an innate human need (Emmons, 1999; Frankl, 1959). The workplace has emerged as the primary arena for fulfilling this need (Ciulla, 2000; Conger, 1994; Markiewicz, Devine, … Kausilas, 2000). This quest for meaningfulness and purpose is a core concern of the emerging positive organizational scholarship movement (Cameron … Dutton, 2003; Nelson … Cooper, 2007). Meaningfulness means that both the work itself and the context within which the work is performed is perceived as purposeful and significant (Pratt … Ashworth, 2003). The idea of purposeful work extends beyond a focus on profit maximization or increasing shareholder wealth by embracing the idea that the primary purpose of the organization is to improve the well–being of all stakeholders (Mackey … Sisodia, 2013). When people are pursuing a profound purpose or engaging in work that is personally important they experience significant positive effects including increased levels of engagement, commitment, empowerment, satisfaction, and a sense of fulfillment (Cameron, 2012).