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I’m going to jump into this discussion even though I wasn’t invited, because I’ve wrestled with this question as an editor. 😉

I don’t see anything morally wrong with doing a certain job for the sake of supporting yourself/your family or to supplement the income from endeavors you’re passionate about but aren’t as lucrative. My association with Gilead could almost be placed in this category. So far, none of the projects they’ve offered me have particularly excited me (though I’m hoping eventually a book from Enclave will be up for editing), but I haven’t turned any of them down even though I have the option to do so. Gilead is my highest-paying, most recurring client at the moment, and since my experience with editing for a publisher expands my résumé, I know it could lead to other opportunities. (Plus, I’m on a personal mission to rid the publishing industry of typos, so I suppose my reasons aren’t completely mercenary even if I’m not a fan of the material I’m combing through. 😜)

Any kind of work that’s done well is honorable and worthy of pay. However, if a person’s only motive for entering a creative profession (like writing, editing, or art) is to earn money, then I think that would turn it into an empty pursuit. A person naturally puts more effort into her work and produces better results when her heart is tied to it in some way. As an INFJ, I must find purpose in whatever I do and feel that it’s valuable/impactful/helpful to others. Otherwise, I languish.