Many years ago, I worked for a company in Beaverton, Oregon. One of the auditors, Cathy, had a young daughter. I remember her telling us with excitement everything she had planned for her daughter on her birthday on Saturday. She had everything set up for her daughter and was genuinely excited to spend time with her. However, Cathy never attended the birthday party. Cathy didn't meet her work deadline and never made it to the party; she worked instead. I thought about her recently and discovered she divorced and re-married.

People need to work because we aren't meant to stagnate, but to have a purpose and money is essential. However, work should never be more important than family. Giving more attention to your employers and co-workers can have disastrous implications.

Proverbs 23:4 says, "Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth; Cease from your own understanding of it." This verse is a call to rest, and it encourages people not to be so consumed with work that they neglect the other areas that God has given us: our family, church, home, gifts, talents, etc. Only focusing on work isn't fruitful for the different areas of life. When you over-work to gain more money, it's like you're telling God, "I don't trust you to provide for my needs. Money is more important."

My husband's work is usually an off-limits subject to talk about at the dinner table. His boss hasn't always treated him well. So, I want to hear about other aspects of his day, such as an interesting person he met. Or visit topics about our future plans and goals.

Work has become such a driving force in this world that when we meet someone, we ask, "What do you do?" When we ask someone to tell us something about themselves, they usually respond by saying what they do for work. Your work isn't who you are; it's what you do to earn money. It isn't your entire identity and doesn't define your self-worth.

Take the time to nurture your connections with your family and yourself. Engage with your loved ones each day. Pursue interests and goals outside of your professional life, and make it a point to try something new each week. Doing so will enrich your life and deepen your relationships, finding a balance that will truly allow you to enjoy life.