Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6: 9-10

It is almost as if the apostle Paul wrote this verse describing most of my life. I was one of those people, eager for money, wandering from the faith as my life filled up with many griefs and many foolish and harmful desires, just as Paul warned Timothy. I was too busy to read and heed Paul’s warning. 

When I graduated college I moved to New York City in the pursuit of fame and fortune on Wall Street. During my career as an insurance executive, I moved my family to six different cities across the country. The main objects of my life became work and making money. I became so absorbed in the rituals and complexities of business, so deeply involved in the activity of planning and making deals, that everything else lost its meaning. It’s often called the “American Dream:” if you work hard enough, anything is possible. I believed this lie, and my definition of success was climbing the ladder and reaching the top before anyone else—making the most money, consolidating the most power, accumulating the most stuff.

While chasing that “dream,” I lost precious time with my wife, two young children and my Lord and Savior. My home-life took third place, my family lost its significance and I became frustrated with relationships if they interfered with my work. My life became tense and artificial. In order to keep up with the pace and cope with the contradictions that I had built into my own existence, I resorted to alcohol. I was backsliding to my life as it was in my early post college years, filling it with alcohol abuse, infidelities, a divorce . . . and then another divorce. 

Although I routinely attended worship and even taught Sunday school, I spent thirty years without any authentic spirituality. I was a Christian on Sunday mornings only. When I did pray, it was only because I was in big trouble. (And I often was in big trouble.)

When I was in church, I was often brought to tears when I recognized that I was no longer reflecting the image of Christ. I knew I needed to return to my journey towards wholeness in Christ. I knew I needed to surrender my whole life—personal, social, health and economic—but I resisted the transforming power of the Spirit. 

I was afraid of what God would ask of me if I got too close. 

But last year, finally, I was ready . . . 

I started the journey. I left my executive position, downsized my lifestyle and started teaching at Saint Joseph’s University. I have come to really know Christ and experience a radical change in my life. I began to experience a personal knowing of God and a personal knowing of myself. For the first time in my life, I was able to accept all the details of my life: both the good and the bad. Because I had been very successful in business, relationships and stature, when I lost them all, I couldn’t accept who I was and constantly looked outside of myself for the key to regain my true self and identity. But during this process of surrender, I learned to step out of the security of my “boat” and meet Jesus in the vulnerability and chaos of my inner storms. It has allowed me to move to a personal knowledge of God and of myself. 

I have come to realize, understand and follow my top six most important biblical truths about work that I’d like to share with you. I hope you’ll pray about them and follow them in your own life: 

1. Find a balance between work and family that benefits everyone and brings glory to God. (Psalm 127:2) 

2. Our work should be centered on service to others. (1 Peter 4:10)

3. A rhythm of work and rest is essential to life. (Hebrews 4:10)

4. The use of wealth and investments should be directed by God. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

5. Our work is connected with Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

6. We are responsible to use wisely the resources God has given us. (Matthew 25:14-30) 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Walt Baker lives in Old City, Philadelphia and also enjoys spending time in Ocean City, NJ. He loves all things on the beach . . . walking, playing games, surfing and relaxing in a chair while reading and listening to classical music. Walt has been an insurance professional for 40 years, and currently shares his expertise as an instructor and program director at St. Joseph’s University. Walt’s dream is to one day work as a pastor, sharing his life story and testimony to inspire others towards salvation and a life in Jesus.