Before I pastored a church, Mondays were my favorite day of the week. I loved planning, and Mondays meant I had a clean slate. I entered the office with an inbox that had tripled since I last checked it the evening before. I spent the morning wading through the chaos to bring meaning and order to my world. Colleagues arrived at work forlorn and weary, and dragging themselves to the Monday grind seemed acceptable. I was baffled by how Monday could be off-putting for many people — especially younger generations. The longer I pastor, the more I face the Monday Blues.
Intergenerational wisdom addresses overcoming Monday discouragement in different ways. Younger generations need to learn to adapt some of their parents’ and grandparents’ perspectives to faithfully serve God (even when they don’t “feel” like it). Likewise, more experienced generations could benefit from understanding how to motivate and encourage those behind them.
Generational Wisdom About Work
Many people born before the invasion of social media and perpetual advertising (those born before 1981) often have a different approach to work than later generations. Younger generations seek meaningful work, and their understanding of how their contributions make a difference motivates them. In contrast, earlier generations viewed work as a duty. Rather than seeking inspiration in every task, they found meaning in their loyalty, consistency and perseverance. Since the Monday blues affect individuals across all ages, we need to integrate the experiences of both perspectives.
First, as a green pastor seeking greener pastures, I want to draw from the lessons that faithful leaders have imparted to me:
• Faithfulness means more than feelings. While today’s culture often equates passion with our ability to persevere, the most seasoned leaders walk by faith. Great leaders have a clear vision of where they want to go. But they grope their path forward as much as anyone else. Younger generations must realize the error of limiting oneself to fleeting passion. If excitement fades, people assume something is wrong. Scripture challenges feelings. The narrative of Ruth beautifully illustrates how small, daily acts of faithfulness — especially when they seem insignificant — can lead to God’s greater plan. Through Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and her willingness to glean in Boaz’s fields, she became the great-grandmother of King David, and ultimately a part of the lineage of the Messiah. We don’t always know where the ripples created by the pebbles of our faithful labor will go. Stay faithful, stay consistent and be committed.
• Rest requires rhythm. My parents and grandparents maintained healthier boundaries with their work than I do. I used to think it was because my work was of immediate, eternal value, but I’ve come to realize I have more to learn from them. Passionate workers push themselves to the point of exhaustion. What if we rediscovered the God-given rhythm of rest? Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Rest should not be viewed as a luxury. Instead, we must recognize our dependence on God by faithfully resting in Him.
• Perseverance produces fruit. While those who grew up in an environment characterized by a “relentlessly positive” attitude, “experiencing a strong economy, the computer revolution, and the end of the Cold War,” developed a desire for instant gratification — such as reaping the rewards of their labor — the wisdom of age offers insights worth considering (Jean M. Twenge. Generations (New York: Atria, 2023): 231). Ministry, work, and personal growth adhere to the principle of steady, faithful sowing before the harvest arrives.
Next, I want to offer some insight from a green pastor’s perspective that could help shape a balanced view of work between the generational divides:
• Connecting the task with the purpose matters. When I managed people in a business setting, it became obvious that older generations were motivated by their paycheck while younger generations were concerned more with their responsibilities. The older a person, the more motivated they were to connect our work with its impact on bonuses and promotional opportunities. The younger generation didn’t care about that. I watched many seasoned leaders crash and burn as millennials entered the workforce because they couldn’t inspire teams like they once did. We need to connect the tasks of work to their larger contribution. We need to cultivate a deeper sense of calling in our work — even the routine. The Bible teaches that even ordinary day-to-day tasks have deep, significant meaning when it is done for God’s glory. We should be leery of separating the “sacred” from the “secular” tasks of life since every aspect of life ultimately functions as an act of worship (Col. 3:23-24).
• Value human connection over organizational loyalty. Those born before 1980 benefit from their ability to maintain rest as a rhythm, a lesson that younger generations can learn from. However, siloing life into buckets or categories deserves to be addressed by the valuable contributions of younger generations. When you connect with and lead those younger than you, understand that a polished professionalism can come across as cold, impersonal, fake, inauthentic, and deceptive. As leaders, we must show our vulnerability so that people look to God, not to ourselves. Faithfulness requires relying on God — not pretending to have it all together.
Mondays Are a Gift
I marvel at the beauty of God’s church. He has called together the poor and the rich, the slaves and the free, the young and the old. Thank God we can learn from each other and encourage one another to grow in God’s grace. Instead of dreading the Monday blues, step forward in faith and celebrate that God has blessed us with another day to serve Him.
