Workaholism and Workaholics
Workaholism is defined as the urge to work excessively or compulsiveness about working. Workaholism is characterized by working excessive hours (beyond the workplace or the financial demands), by thinking and speaking continually about work, and by a lack of finding joy in what a person is doing.
Bible References:
The Bible advices against workaholism as seen in the following passages:
The fourth commandment states, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11). The Lord ordained that man should work six days but rest on the seventh (Genesis 2:2,3).
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:1-2). The workaholics do not get joy out of life because of their constant labor. They keep themselves busy and are so concerned about material things that they do not have peace of mind. The Lord tells them that it is He that gives success.
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom” (Proverbs 23:4). The main goal of life is to acquire God’s knowledge that will prepare us for eternity.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born,
and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). God has ordained certain seasons for work and certain seasons for rest.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). The Christian faith cannot accept the role of being one influence among many. Its affect must necessarily be supreme and must control all other affects, bringing the life into harmony with the Lord.
“Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:33-34). Serving others is the cure for workaholism.
“Let your moderation be known unto all men” (Philippians 4:5). Moderation in work, rest, and service to others is the key to success. Those that lead unbalanced lives go against the Creator’s plan and hurt themselves in the process.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). To acquire riches, workaholics sacrifice peace, friendship, and health. The love of money is responsible for a great share of this world’s miseries.
Thus, we see that the Bible speaks against workaholism and urges workaholics to prioritize their lives according to the divine principles
In His service,
BibleAsk Team