Do you ever feel like your work is killing you?  In Japan, work is literally killing people.  The Japanese call it “karoshi” – death from too much work.   These types of deaths have steadily increased since the Health Ministry first recognized the phenomenon in 1987. This comes from a nation that prides itself in long extended hours.

This week, a Japanese labor bureau ruled that one of Toyota’s top car engineers died from working too many hours. The man who died was aged 45 and had been under severe pressure as the lead engineer in developing a hybrid version of Toyota’s blockbuster Camry line. In the two months up to his death, the man averaged more than 80 hours of overtime per month. He regularly worked nights and weekends and was frequently sent abroad.

Are you working too many hours?  Is your work being done in vain?  Are you working for something you believe in?  Does your life’s work reflect your values and faith?  If you are concerned with your answers to any of these questions, seek to make change.  By placing principles before profits, you can discover ways to achieve wealth and glorify God in the process. Revaluate your life today and make sure your faith is aligned with your priorities in life.  A great resource for finding your calling is Dan Miller’s “48 Days”.  You can go to www.48days.com.  Whether you are retired, gainfully employed, or seeking new opportunities you will find much value in Dan’s resources.