Key Bible Verse: Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit (Proverbs 23:4). Bonus Reading: James 4:13-14

I first met Jim in Elgin, Illinois, at one of my marriage seminars. "Like lots of men," he told me, "I thought that if I worked long hours and creatively applied myself, I'd overcome the insecurities of my youth and get ahead of my peers.

"I can't say that I really liked my work, but I was good at it. In a few years I was moving up the ladder. When I was salesman of the year, it felt good. But when there were setbacks, my only answer was to work harder.

"I spent long hours on the job; I seldom saw my kids awake. I'd sneak into their bedrooms at night, look at their sleeping faces, and tell myself that I was working hard to provide a good future for them. But I wasn't there when they took their first steps, nor when they first rode a bicycle. I did some things for my wife, like sending her a card and flowers on her birthday, but we had little time together. When Amy complained about my absences, it reminded me of my failures as a father and husband, and increased my desire to escape from the house.

"Then one Sunday afternoon Amy got my attention by proposing to take me on a mysterious outing." [continued 9/9]

—Gary Chapman in Loving Solutions

My Response: How do my work habits resemble, or differ from, those of Jim?

Adapted from Loving Solutions (Moody, 1998) by permission.

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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