Businesses worldwide have been on the “work-life balance” kick for over 40 years. But is the idea of work-life balance Biblical?
The idea of “work-life balance” swept through boardrooms and HR offices in the 1980s. The concept of balancing work and life came in response to several studies that showed workers experienced high levels of stress because of the demands of long work weeks, which left little time for family, friends, or personal interests.
As work-life balance programs were deployed, they were often one size fits all, focused on improving employee time-management skills and cutting work hours down to some sustainable, arbitrary number that professionals created.
Work-Life Balance is Not a Biblical Concept!
Look through the Bible all you want, but you won’t find work-life balance expressed or implemented the way modern sociologists and HR managers define the concept.
Moses did not demonstrate work-life balance in the Exodus record as he led the Israelites day and night for 40 years from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Jesus wasn’t worried about work-life balance during his three years of ministry.
Paul, logged over 10,000 miles during his years of proclaiming the Gospel, and also found time to write 13 of the 26 books of the New Testament. I doubt Paul was concerned with work-life balance!
Now, we jump forward 2,000 years to today’s workforce. Is there anything in the Bible that says I can’t work 60 hours a week and still be doing work God has called me to do? Do I have to stop working after 40 hours to pursue a hobby if I don’t want to?
No. Nothing in the Bible equates a certain number of work hours, family time, and personal interests to be a “balanced” life.
So, if work-life balance is not a Biblical construct, how should Christians think about managing the time in our life?
Instead, Christians Are Called to Obedience!
The example of numerous Bible characters is clear. Christians are not called to work-life balance. Instead, Christians are called to obedience, specifically, obedience to God.
In his book, Thank God It’s Monday, author Mark Greene describes four calls to obedience found in the Scripture.
1. We Are Commanded to Develop an Intimate Relationship with God
First, and most importantly, we are commanded to develop a deep, intimate relationship with God.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Jesus repeated this commandment. He said,
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)
If we are so busy working, playing with friends, or engrossed in our hobbies that we do not have time for God, then as Christians, our priorities are misaligned.
2. We Are Exhorted to Love Others
God made man to be in loving relationships. Those relationships extend beyond our parents and immediate families to friends and co-workers.
As He continued His teaching regarding the Greatest Commandment, Jesus said,
“And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
The Bible does not tell how much time to spend working, with our families and friends, or even with outside interests. The Scripture does command that we love one another in each relationship.
3. We Are Commanded to Work
We are commanded to work. Moses made this command clear as he relayed God’s instruction to the people of Israel.
“Six days you shall labor, and do all your work.” (Exodus 20:9)
However, we are to work with purpose, which provides for our families. We are not to work to get rich at the expense of our responsibilities to our families and other relationships.
4. We Are Commanded to Stop Working
God commands us to work, but He also commands us to stop working. In the next verse of Exodus, Moses relays God’s command to stop working and rest.
“but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” (Exodus 20:10)
We are to stop our daily work tasks and enter into a time of rest and refreshment. What constitutes rest and refreshment varies by individual. What is rest for one person might be work for another. For example, it’s refreshing for me to spend time outside in the garden on a warm sunny day. Other folks (some in my family) would view time spent pulling weeds and pruning bushes as inhuman torture.
Obedience Comes Before Balance
By now, it should be clear that there is no one answer to how to divide the time in our lives. After all, the answer to the question is different for every individual. The answer changes over time. I do not divide my time as a retired person the way I did when working, when the children were at home, or when I was a single person.
As our highest priority, what must come first is our obedience to God as we develop intimate relationships with Him, love one another, work with a purpose, and take time to rest and refresh our minds and bodies.
Proper work-life balance is achieved secondarily and only through remaining obedient to God!
More Articles
I have written many articles on obedience to God. You can find them by typing “Obedience to God” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are several of my favorites.
- #426: Fulfill the Will of God by Taking the First Step
- #423: The Three Most Common Excuses Leading to Failure
- #385: Is the Path You Are on the Right One?
- #365: Do You Lead Like an Owner or A Steward?
- #345: Disobedience to God Always Leads to Lost Opportunities
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Do you struggle with work-life balance in your life? If you do, is it because you are not obedient to God in one of these four areas?
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Category: Personal Development | Obedience to God
My Dad used to talk about how work regulates us. Purpose is important. Certainly rest is too. I never worried much about work/life balance. There were times when work required more, and times when I had more downtime.
I’ve always felt the same way, John. There were times in my career when it was crazy and demanded every bit of my attention, and then there were slow times. Thankfully, my bride understood and gave me the freedom to flex to the demands as needed.