God is the greatest good and we must love Him more than anything, and be willing to give and sacrifice everything else for Him — even ourselves. After God, our love should be for our own immortal souls, the souls of others, our own bodies, and the bodies of others. Last and least of all are all the material things that are given to us for the sustenance of our bodies. The food, clothing, and shelter of our bodies are all good things, and they are necessary for our bodies; but, they should never take preference to the things that are necessary for our souls.
All the material things that God has created, He has created for us. That is, He has created them for our bodies. Our bodies, have likewise, been created for our souls. Our souls have been created for God. We must, therefore, seek out nourishment for our bodies so that we do not abuse this precious gift of a body that God has given us. We must seek out clothing and shelter for our bodies so that we protect our bodies from harm. All these aids to the body are good. They are, however, of much lesser value than the body, and even of much less value than the soul, or even of the spiritual things that appertain to the soul.
We must labor for the care of our bodies, but we must never allow this care of our bodies to take away from the care that is necessary for our souls. Labor is necessary to sustain our bodies. Our bodies have been made to work; if we fail to employ them in this matter, then we must seek out some artificial labor or exercise to maintain our health. Work, then involves more than obtaining our daily bread. Even before Adam sinned, he was given the task of ruling over the material world. The punishment of sin was not that we should now have to work, but rather that now our labors have become odious to us. If we could return to right order, we would work for the love of God, and in the presence of God — not because we are forced by necessity to work, or by a disordered avarice or greed.
Our labors, then, become noble and uplifting. Catholics used to be looked upon as the best employees. This was because we understood the dignity of labor, and because we worked for God and in the constant presence of God. Catholics understand the necessity of honesty, and integrity in performing their labors. A Catholic could then be trusted and counted upon to do the job well. He looked principally to God for a reward and only secondarily to the employer. Our workplaces and marketplaces are not what they should be simply because we as a society have lost sight of the fact that we must first give an account to God; and that He is always with us and is watching us. Men may be able to deceive and cheat one another; but they will never be able to do this to God. If not before, then on the last day, they will have to give an account of themselves to Him.
We must not abandon our physical labors, but rather ennoble them by doing them to the best of our ability for the love of God — seeking first and foremost an eternal reward. Our honesty and integrity may appear difficult in this life but the eternal reward itself will be more than sufficient compensation. However, very often, this honesty and integrity is also amply rewarded materially in this life. A productive, honest employee with integrity is almost priceless to every employer. Such employees, because they are such an asset to any company will advance in their place of employment, they will be given raises or other incentives to try and keep them. A good employee is hard to find or replace. In this we see that what Our Lord has told us is very true. If we seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and Its Justice, everything else will be given us.
It may be true that employment opportunities are not what they used to be, this should not suggest that we give up, but rather, that we humble ourselves and become even better employees. If we approach our labors for the love of God, willing to embrace any cross or task — no matter how lowly — and do so honestly and conscientiously to the best of our abilities, we will soon be advanced. The key is to do it for God, not the money or any other material advantage. In laboring for God, we are seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven. Such an employee is rare today and is in great demand. We would venture to suggest that such qualities are even more valuable to an employer than educational degrees and titles. As we strive to truly serve God; we find that He truly does take care of all the material things.