Matthew 6:33-34 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

This article is for those who never seem to get caught up, that spend 12+ hours every day, month after month, endlessly striving to get work done.

Whether you are one of those people who burn the professional candle at both ends or someone who has struck the perfect work-life balance, one thing holds true: Work will completely fill whatever time you give it.

It’s real. Like a gas completely fills whatever container holds it, work fills every minute you are willing to sacrifice. Its appetite is voracious. It is a freedom eater, and it chews up and swallows your time faster than you can shovel it in. Like a hungry animal, it sits there begging, “Feed me more.” The higher up the corporate ladder you climb, the louder the complaints and more pressing the hunger.

As simple as this concept is, we often don’t understand its very powerful implication: We are in control, and work is not.

If you believe that this statement is true, it will help you achieve a balance in life that is healthy, happy and sustainable. So, do you believe me?

If you think you are not in control of how much work your career absolutely demands, you might qualify as the “S” (Submissive) or “C” (Compliant) dimension of the DiSC Personality Profile. It simply means you have a personality that perceives oneself as less powerful than the environment. And yes, that comes with a tendency to work endless hours, often feeling like you can never seem to catch up.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 "And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."

I’m not suggesting from this passage above that you, as a follower of Christ, are full of envy. I am asking you to consider, however, there may be subconscious reasons you work so many hours. This is something worth examining. Here are a few questions you may want to get used to asking yourself:

• What would happen if I let this work task wait until tomorrow?
• Who might also benefit from doing this specific work instead of me?
• Which of my core values do I contradict by working as much as I do?
• What steps can I take to reduce the amount of time this effort will take next time?

We are on a journey. And we all want to have the greatest impact possible for our Lord. Consider your time, how much you spend buried in work and take the steps to regain control. It’s easier than you think.

Shawn Sommerkamp is a motivational speaker and Executive Coach with 20+ years of Fortune 100 leadership experience. He founded Motivationeer™ to coach Christian professionals how to use their career to glorify God and support local church growth.