Workaholics

Happy Sunday. It was 1974. Harry Chapen came out with a song entitled Cats in the Cradle. If you're a father, it's likely that you know this song.

It's all about a father that chose work over his son. One part of a verse says, "My son turned 10 just the other day." He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play.

Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today. I got a lot to do." He said, "That's okay."

And he walked away, but he smile, his smile never dimmed. It said, "I'm going to be like him." Yeah, you know, I'm going to be like him. Well, at the end of the song, the father retired.

He wanted to catch up with his son and the son that he ignored. And this is the last verse. I've long since retired. My son's moved away.

I called him up just the other day. I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind." He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time. You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu, but it's sure nice talking to you, Dad.

It's been sure nice talking to you." And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me he'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me. This song can bring on a lot of guilt.

Looking back at my life, I wish I spent even more time with my family. I made it a priority. Yet, there's a work life balance that must be found. Today's verse from Proverbs 23:4 talks about this.

There it says, "Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit." I've known men and women who have worked hard 80 plus hours a week. The role of father or mother was sacrificed for the role of provider.

I heard a man the other day talk about a co-orker who was away from home, out of town at least 5 days a week, and the kids were totally without daddy for 75% of their existence. I have a friend who traveled the world for business, gone weeks at a time all over this globe. And he talked to me one day surprised when he found out that his son was an atheist. Sadly, he never realized that his ab his absence was key to his son's rebellion.

Proverbs 23:4 makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Don't wear yourselves out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. This verse is all about priorities.

I've known people who have worked hard, yet when they got home, they stayed on their phones or on their computers. Other others wisely draw a line and decide that while the kids are up, they will not work. They'll play and talk and teach and enjoy. This problem's not going away.

With the advent of cell phones and text messaging and email, we can be too connected. We need to know when to say when. Now, this problem is also relevant to those who are without children. Perhaps the nest is the nest is empty and it's just you.

These were these words still very much apply. Do not wear yourself out trying to get rich, but be wise enough to know when to quit. Robert Fulgum wrote a book several years ago entitled All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I love these words from that book.

There he says, "Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw some and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, hold hands and stick together.

Do a little bit of everything every day." A Jesus spoke about this in Mark 8:36 about priorities when he asked the question for what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and for forfeit his soul. Here Jesus is addressing those who work seven days a week. No time for worship, no Sabbath observed, no time for God, just a hamster on a wheel running and running after something.

The next verse in Proverbs 23 sheds even more light on this problem. Proverbs 23:5 says, "In the blink of an eye, wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle." Yes, some lose their fortunes with risky investments, and all lose their fortunes when death occurs. You can't take it with you.

The good news today is that you can make eternal investments in your faith. You can secure a place in heaven and you can influence your children by worshiping together as a family and teaching them about God. May God bless you as you try and find that balance that pleases him. Pray with me.

Lord, help us to have that balance. Those that are working, that have small kids, I ask that you would give them wisdom beyond their years. those of us whose children are gone, we pray that we would continue to live lives that are balanced and pleasing to you. Thank you for your watch, care, and your word.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen. God bless. Thanks for joining me today.