The document discusses how job stress can negatively impact families if proper balance is not maintained. It provides biblical passages encouraging putting God and family first. Specific advice includes praying together, respecting each other, attending church, and committing to faithfulness, integrity and purity in relationships. Forgiveness and training children in the Lord are also emphasized.

1. Stress and the Family

2. Proverbs 11:29 “ He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.” Shift work, overtime, weekend schedules and job stress can create a difficult time for families How often have you had to rearrange family functions to fit your work schedule? Have you ever missed one of you child’s school or sports functions due to work?

3. Neglecting the things that God gives us, like a family, is detrimental to the foundation of your family and your spiritual life. Ecclesiastes 9:9 “ Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. “ (NLT)

4. Just as we serve God, we should also serve our spouse. Ephesians 5:25-28 “ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

5. Stress generated by unresolved marital problems, family functions, money issues, and children’s schedules makes for a corrosive element. This same destructive stress can cause us to neglect our spiritual family. God wants to be first in your life and He wants our families to prosper.

6. Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Ephesians 4:22-24 “ … put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

7. Placing God first in your life creates a strong foundation and a loving and nurturing home in which your loved ones can grow. Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”

8. God wants us to honor our vows to our spouse and to Him, Numbers 30:2 “ When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” Upon marriage we were united as one with our spouse, placing aside personal gain and working as one in service of our Lord

9. Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 “ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

10. Keep God FIRST! Pray together Respect and honor each other Encourage each other to grow together Read the Bible together as much as possible Attend Church services Be swift to hear and slow to speak Protect and honor your marriage vows Thank God everyday for your mate and the life you have Understand that love is a choice, not a feeling.

11. Being unable to leave our authoritative controlling work self at work can add stress to a family. Other acts of the sinful nature can be just as detrimental to a marriage. Galatians 5:19-21 “ The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

12. Being in control and not allowing our sinful nature to take over is a must 1 Peter 3:7 “ Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

13. Have you ever in a moment of anger treated your spouse as if she were a suspect? Have you ever used police terminology common only to those in law enforcement with your family? What can you do to avoid bringing home the stress of the job?

14. The Bible teaches that we are to strive to be Christ-like and to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. By doing so, we will develop character traits or “fruits” of the Holy Spirit which will help us to defeat the desires of the sinful nature.

15. Galatians 5:22-26 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

16. Practice being compassionate in your home Practice being kind to each other Practice being humble and giving others their way Practice being gentle with the words we say Practice being patient with the entire family Practice communication with your spouse and children Forgive at home and at work

17. Faithfulness is a cornerstone trait in a successful marriage and spiritual life. Make a commitment to purity in your marriage “ Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.” Proverbs 5:15 Make a commitment to integrity in the work place. “ The LORD abhors dishonest scales , but accurate weights are his delight.” Proverbs 11:1 Make a commitment to loyalty in relationships “ Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4 Make a commitment to manage what God has given “ Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

18. Why do you think that commitment is important to being and staying faithful to God and your spouse?

19. Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Matthew 6:14-15 “ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

20. What do you find most difficult about forgiving others?

21. Proverbs 22:6 “ Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Ephesians 6:4 “ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

22. Children are a gift from God. Never abandon your Godly responsibilities to your children. Never put the job ahead of your families best interest.

23. Give God honor Worship and be the spiritual leader in the home Have peace Be thankful Make commitments Choose to love Give children boundaries, teach, be an example