Don’t let work become too important

God gives us many good gifts to enjoy in this world, and work is one of them. Ecclesiastes recognizes this:

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. - Eccl 3:12-13, NIV

There is enjoyment at work in getting things done, in good friendships, and even in getting an end-of-year bonus for a job well done.

Stop and consider: What do you enjoy about your job?

Potential danger

But sometimes we enjoy our work so much that we are in danger of squeezing out God’s priorities for our lives. Over time, a good thing like work can become a godlike thing that takes over everything else.

Here are five potential warning signs that could reveal you love your job just a bit too much:

1. You’re not getting enough rest because you are spending so much time at the office.
2. You are afraid to open your mouth about being Christian at work in case you are disadvantaged or ostracized.
3. You find negative feedback at work crushing to your sense of who you are.
4. Your headspace is often dominated by thoughts of work. You can’t switch off.
5. You’re too busy to care for or develop relationships with your work colleagues.

What to do about it

If you identify with more than one of the statements above, you may be starting to love your work a little too much. “That might be true”, you say “but what can I do about it?”

Here are four suggestions:

1. Work at loving Jesus more. Somehow you need to take time to meditate again on who Jesus is, his great love for you, and how good heaven is going to be.
2. Join a work-based Christian group. Consider joining a Christian group that will encourage you to pray for your colleagues and focus on Jesus at work.
3. Redraw your boundaries. My guess is that if you love your work too much, you’re probably good at what you do. You are most likely either a valued employee or an owner of a healthy business. This means you’ll have collateral to negotiate with as you redraw your work boundaries. Not sure if this will work? You won’t know until you try.
4. Talk to an older mentor. Find someone who is wise and godly and has your best (Christian) interests at heart. Ask this person if they can meet with you regularly for a while until you get yourself sorted.

It’s a great thing to enjoy your work. But remember, heaven is going to be so much better. Make sure you stay focused not just on what is good but on what is best:

“Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” - John 6:27, NIV

Action: Has your work become too important? What will you do this week to redress your priorities?

Pray: Thank God for your work. Pray that you would have godly priorities in all areas of your life.