“Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.” (Proverbs 23:4 NLT)
The idea of the Proverb is that some people will work as long and as hard as necessary in order to gain wealth! Unfortunately, riches can "fly away like an eagle" (cf. 23:5). As quickly as you get it you can lose it. There is nothing wrong with ambition or even attaining wealth unless it drives you to materialism and keeps you from your most important priorities. Materialism is the general idea that your worth is measured by your wealth (things, money, properties, possessions, etc.), and it’s pervasive in our society. There's a lot that needs to be understood about the dangers of materialism, but what connects with me here is the issue of not "[knowing] when to quit." It's easy in our culture to become a workaholic...and you will almost always be praised for doing so by those around you! There's seemingly a never ending supply of things to do that can keep you from getting healthy periods of rest! Rest doesn't necessarily mean inactivity! Sometimes it's just a diversion from your normal routine to do something you find enjoyable. (It may also includes periods of inactivity other than when you are sleeping.) It's mostly a matter of disengaging from your “schedule” to find time away to do something different. The struggle that a lot of us have in a world that is alive with activity 24/7 is in making ourselves STOP for awhile to rest. I have stood by many people that were dying with only days or hours to live and I have never heard one of them say they wish they had worked more or longer hours. Nobody has ever said, "I wish I would have taken one more business trip or made one more sale." However, I've heard some say, "I wish I had more time to be with my family and friends.” Or, "I wish I had more time to enjoy life!” Death has a way of prioritizing things really quick. Total inactivity may not a person's idea of "rest" and if they have young children it may be almost impossible. "Rest" is more than just inactivity! It's about unplugging from work to spend time with your greater priorities! It's about a change of pace so that the ones that mean the most to you can have your presence with them! It's not easy, but it's important! To your family and true friends, love is spelled: TIME...not money or things!
