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Key Bible Verse: So what do people get for all their hard work? … even at night they cannot rest (Ecclesiastes 2:22, 23). Bonus Reading: Luke 12:15-21

In the Christian home in which Al was raised, hard work—not just cleanliness—was next to godliness. His parents had risen out of poverty and imbued in Al and his four brothers a belief that work and worth were inseparable. Even though his father had suffered a stroke from the strain of overwork, and abhorrence of idleness had made his mother a fretful, anxious person, Al couldn't shake their impact on him.

At work, Al was a model of industriousness, believing that what he did on the job made him invaluable. Praise became a narcotic upper to keep him going. As the years rolled by, however, the more work he took on, the more he feared failure. Then one day the creativity and drive burned out. The sympathy he'd gained from his wife and children for how hard he worked no longer satisfied.

Al admits that much of the delight of being a father and husband has passed him by. But he still won't let go. A group of Christian businessmen with whom he meets periodically keep challenging him to glorify the Lord by getting his work into perspective. One thing has become clear: Until Christ heals his inner insecurity, he'll kill himself trying to justify himself by overwork.

—Lloyd Ogilvie in Asking God Your Hardest Questions

My Response: Could I be addicted to work? Who might hold me accountable for restoring balance?

Thought to Apply: I've been working all my life, but somehow it seems longer. —Robert Orben (magician, humorist)

Adapted from Asking God Your Hardest Questions (Shaw, 1981, 1984, 1996) by permission.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

You are honored, Lord, when I work hard, rest well, and nourish my relationship with You, family, and friends. Help me strike the right balance.

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