Do You Work TOO Much??

[Lonewolf7]

I push at least 70 hours every week.

I have never done a word study from scripture about working too much.

Does anyone have some verses that speak of this??

[AlishaGail]

Interesting question. I'm sorry I don't have any scripture for this, but I am very interested to see the answers from others. :):

Lisha

[Gary]

I really don't think that the Bible specifically says anything about how many hours per week you should work. However, in Biblical times, people worked from sunrise to sunset, then called it quits. I know that working 16 hours has to be very unhealthy and I don't think the Lord wants you to be stressed out or get sick from working too much. Just MHO.

[Jael]

Originally posted by Lonewolf7
I push at least 70 hours every week.

I have never done a word study from scripture about working too much.

Does anyone have some verses that speak of this??

I can't think of any scriptures specifically dealing with working too much...but there are a lot of applicable scriptures that deal with having the right priorities. So I would say that working too much is a problem if:

(1) we are working so much that we cannot fulfill our obligations to our family (if we have one), such as the need to train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, to love our wives as Christ loved the church (men), or to guide the house and care for our husband and children (women).

(2) we are working so much that we cannot fulfill our obligations to the Lord, such as studying to show ourselves approved unto God, and being faithful in prayer and spending time with Him, using our gifts in His service, and assembling ourselves together with other believers.

(3) our motive for working so hard is not a righteous one, such as wanting to accumulate material wealth and possessions beyond what we really need...or seeking worldly status through our job (to the detriment of more important things)...We are told to love neither the world, nor the things in it, so we should not exalt our job to the level of an idol in our lives. The rich man who kept building himself bigger barns might be an example of this, he expended all that effort on accumulating wealth, but lost his soul!

Like you, I work very hard and 70+ hours is not unusual, but in the last year I became convicted about it and told my boss that I just couldn't/wouldn't do it anymore. I explained that I would be available of course to deal with crisis situations, but that I just wouldn't put up with work-plans and budgets that were predicated on me working double-time. And he supported me and I have worked an average of 50-55 hours per week since then (and about 15 of those hours are worked at home). Still working hard, but not so excessively that it interferes with the more important things.

Edit to add: not advising you to give your boss an ultimatum! I had just reached my limit and I was ready to leave if he would not work with me to develop more reasonable schedules...the Lord may not lead you to handle it that way. :):

[RJs here]

Psalm 127
2 It is useless to get up early
and stay up late
in order to earn a living.
God takes care of his own,
even while they sleep. (CEV) ............. ;):



now, this of course, does not say to *NOT WORK* ~ no, no, no ~ not at all!!!!


in fact, other Scripture says that he who would not work should NOT EAT.


But this Psalm is merely saying we should have BALANCE in life -- and not work ourselves to death!!!!!

[cameron222]

As long as we observe the commandment to stop after six days and rest on the seventh........we should be o.k.

[Lonewolf7]

Thank you for the replies.....just got home again at midnight.....started as usual....7:30am.

I am working 2 jobs to pay the bills and earn my comm pilot's certificate......to have a good job (and because I like it) so that my wife can stay home to raise our children....homeschool possibly too.

I have been at this for about 5 years...working 2 jobs....but am getting closer to the goal.

[Jael]

Originally posted by Lonewolf7
Thank you for the replies.....just got home again at midnight.....started as usual....7:30am.

I am working 2 jobs to pay the bills and earn my comm pilot's certificate......to have a good job (and because I like it) so that my wife can stay home to raise our children....homeschool possibly too.

I have been at this for about 5 years...working 2 jobs....but am getting closer to the goal.

Lonewolf, it sounds like your heart is in the right place, you are working hard for good reasons (paying bills is good :):...that's why I still work 55 hours a week). There's nothing wrong with liking our job either - I love mine...I tell my friends that being a programmer is like getting paid to play :): . Are your long hours interfering with being a good husband or father? Hindering your walk with the Lord? If not, there's probably not a problem.

When I was working 70+ hours I just couldn't do it all...I gave the job their time, I gave the kids their time, guess who I short-changed? I was too tired to pray or study the Bible (when the kids went to bed I collapsed) and I missed church 3 out of 4 Sundays. Neglecting my inner man had consequences that began to show up in my behavior. I had to cut back. But you may have more stamina and perhaps it isn't a problem for you?

[ginnae]

My husband works almost that many hours a week on his weekends to work (he works either the whole week or takes Tues off)
He is a manager of a discount store and works either 8-6 or 8-9:30pm. When they aren't busy he gets 4 days off a month. When they are busy or big wigs cut back on money for wages, he has only 2 days off a month.
He earns just enough for me to stay home with the kids, but he is missing out in a lot of their lives. He is too tired to do much in the evenings he gets home.
He would love to quite, but we don't know how we would handle it. I went to college for a teaching degree, but never worked as a teacher, just subbed way back when. I graduated 11 yrs ago, things have changed since then. If I got a job, I would start out at mid to low 20's. My husband would have to find another job that pays the same amount or more, since we would have to factor in childcare costs.
I went off on a tangent, sorry.
But in our family working that much does seem to hinder the family life. I don't see hubby much, I am so used to being along, that I feel weird when he is home. Sad, but true.
Kids come to me for everything, because I am always here. Dad is just some passing person who comes and goes through out the day (he comes home for lunch and supper)

[cameron222]

I am 56, just had a heart cath and a stent placed in my artery and have a great job.

However, I used to be a slave for the corporate world and they have no mercy. The name of the game is profits and increases in business over last year. They expect you to live, eat and breathe their business and give your life to them for the "opportunity" they are giving you.....:doh

Point of story.....these 56 years have flown by and I have missed a lot by giving my all to make a great living in the first part of my career. I now work a normal work week, am off on weekends and holidays and love my work, but early on I missed many of the ball games, teacher;s meetings, etc, and now its over.

As Adrian Rogers once said...you can't unscramble eggs. Forget the power grabs...learn to live on what you make and take that extra time off and devote it to your family. That will be an investment that will pay a guaranteed dividend.

[snowbird]

Well written.

I have heard from people that have witnessed many last testiments that people do not regret the money they haven't made, or the promotion they didn't get, or the career, or the stuff, but rather the life, and family that they neglected.

I think Christ was referring to what people needed to do back then - cut wood, carry water, grind grain, make bread, cook the fish, tend the sheep, milk the goat etc.

I think tending to family is what the twelve hours is all about - regardless if it be outside, or inside the home. I prefer to do as much within the home as possible so I am around the family.

I think that schooling and working exclusively outside the home has only been a fairly recent event. I think it has done a lot of damage.

[Corey]

89 hours last week. But my wife and I are finishing some things up and this is just a season.

Still hard though.

Isn't there scripture that we should go home with energy, not expending all of it at work?

[Lonewolf7]

Jael
Are your long hours interfering with being a good husband or father? Hindering your walk with the Lord? If not, there's probably not a problem.

That is an obvious yes.......



Corey

Right behind you with about 88 for this week.

This much work gets old....but I don't want to have a hard physical job for the rest of my life. I am working towards a job that pays me for my brain skills.

[architectlink]

I was hoping to see some biblical advice for all of the workaholics and would still like any suggestions on books.

My husband was definitely addicted to work and I believe satan and society have convinced everyone that to live for the world and to keep up with the Jones is a WORTHY ADDICTION.

Workaholism is as deadly as alcholism and other addictions. Let us know if you have seen any good books on the subject. Thanks and God Bless.

[RJs here]

well, while it's not really a cure -- architectlink, but my DH is a born & bred workaholic, too {he also tends to "hyper focus" ~ and therein, lies part of the problem}

But hey -- I'll take him this way any day rather than being married to a slob of a man who does nothing but lays on a couch & pops beer tops all day!! :B:



Anyway -- one of my "cures" (not really a cure -- but just for fun) is when we go off on a mini trip, and DH is one to talk business constantly.....

So I tell him I'm going to BOP him on the head every time he interrupts our personal time with talk of work!! :fish

heheh ......

He has a sore noggin by the time we return home!!


...... ;):


Like I say ~ this is just all in jest & fun.

Oh for all of us to find that BALANCE in life that the Lord wants us to have!! but ~ no doubt, it's different for all of us!!

[cameron222]

Preachers....of all people......suffer a high degree of burnout from the demands and time requirements of their job. Some members require constant attention and demand the pastor shows up at their beck and call....even if its two in the morning.

Some people also love what they do and stay with it as long as they can. However, if they are married and have children, they can do damage to the marriage by being away so much.

Oh well! Last month we were whining about people not having jobs.....now people are working too much!!

I agree with RJ on one thing (did I say that?) :doh Better to have a hard working spouse than one who lays around all day
moaning and popping beer tabs.

It all requires a balance....God first, family second, church third and work fourth....IMO

[RJs here]

:pound


:kiss

[D'Light]

222 you are so right! Also...too late to take back the:kiss from

RJ. :pound

The scripture says to do your job fully, to the best of your ability, not, to give up your whole life for it.

My dh was working 70-90 hrs. and had a massive heart attack.
There were 58 men there, most of them under 50, that had
heart attacks that yr. The co. was bought by someone else and they went to 40-45 hrs. The heart attacks dropped to about 3 that yr.

These co.'s do not care what happens to you when you are disabled or dead! All they care about is 'there' profit.

I can understand working extra hours temporarily, to get thru school or pay something off, etc. but if your making a long term habit of it, then your priorities need to get in check.

America is now proven to have people that work the most hours for less compensation than any other country, and this has just surpassed Japan.

Where I used to work, we did not work extensive hours, but every year had more and more squeezed into that timeframe, to the point we could hardly go to the bathroom all day.

I don't feel we are meant to work to that point.
:nod

[SavedbyYeshua]

Dr. Richard A. Swenson, a medical practicioner, has written an excellent book titled

MARGIN

and it explains how to create the emotional, physical, financial, and time reserves you need to maximize your work life in balance with your family life.:thumb