Is work your God?

You shall have no other gods before Me. – Exodus 20:3

The ability to work is a wonderful gift, but are we taking it too far? In the past, people left their jobs at the office, but now they come home to e-mail and phone messages.

Dr. Dave Arnott, associate professor of management at Dallas Baptist University, says, "I don’t know whether work is taking over family and community, or whether family and community are giving up their place to work. But I know the movement is going on. Everyone’s job seems to be who they are." We tend to equate our identity with what we do for a living.

The president of the Families and Work Institute says, "How busy you are has become the red badge of courage . . . It’s become a status symbol," even though people complain about it.

Making a god out of work is not a new problem. In the first commandment, God said, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (EXODUS 20:3). That includes our jobs. Through God’s gift of work, we can honor Him, care for our families and help people in need. Work is not to be our main sources of fulfillment; that must come from God Himself.

No matter what our occupation, we must keep work in perspective. God and family are more important than dedication to a job. Work is a gift, not a god. – David Mccasland

Work hard, but give the glory to

The Father up above;

For all good gifts come from His hand

As tokens of His love. – Gustafson

READ: EXODUS 20:1-6

It’s not the hours you put in, but what you put in the hours that counts.

The Bible in one year:

• DEUTERONOMY 17-19