A lot of the work that I do on a regular basis is from home, and I know what the challenge of balancing home and work is like. It's become normal for me to have my daughter come up to me in the middle of an article I'm writing or my wife want to strike a conversation while I'm deep in thought for my next preaching or teaching session.
For the most part, I try to stop the interruption. We all need to focus to keep food on the table right? But there also comes a tipping point where we just shut off family completely in order to keep our focus on work.
I'm reminded of the family movie "Click" which tells the story of a man who was so engrossed in his career that he had completely neglected the value of his wife and children. He's given a fictional remote control that's supposed to allow fast forwarding moments in his life and many of the things he skips are things pertaining to family moments. He skips through so much of it that at the end of his life he realises he has missed out on what mattered most.
The moral lesson of that movie is quite biblical. If there's one principle that the Bible teaches all across the board, it's that family matters to God. Speaking of the example that leaders set, Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:4, "He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity."
Do you value your family enough to close that laptop or drop that client call to spend time with them? Or is our reaction always "Not now," or "Can't you see I'm still working?" I'm not implying that we completely neglect work and that we drop everything every single time the kids or the spouse comes to us, but when that becomes the norm, then we know the heart is not in the right place.
When it comes to values, I am always reminded of Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
What do you treasure most? Whatever that is, that's where your heart will be. Sure work is important and God gives us God-ordained and blessed work. But work is never meant to be more important than relationships, especially family.
I am thankful that we are given this chance to share life with people who are so close to us and who God puts in our charge - our children, our spouses, parents, siblings and even family friends. We must refuse to sacrifice family and relationships at the altar of corporate success. Family matters to God and it should matter to us more than we think. We can never overvalue the blessing that is family.
