Being able (or expected) to enjoy your work is a relatively new thing in human society.

I can't make a claim about the broader state of the history of ideas, but I do know the idea is found in the Bible.

   I have seen personally what is the only beneficial 
   and appropriate course of action for people: to eat 
   and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work
   on earth during the few days of their life which God
   has given them, for this is their reward. 
      Ecclesiastes 5:18

So the idea is at least a couple millenia old. I'd expect it to be popular wisdom as well, independent of its inclusion in the Bible. It's pretty sound advice.