Business circles show concern about the deteriorating effect that long office hours, work brought home, and frequent business trips have on the stability of the family life of businessmen. Frequently wives feel lonely; children are inadequately guided or disciplined; fatigue and irritability result in discord rocking the home. Is a businessman's success in business incompatible with his happiness at home?

Imbalance between business and marriage has its roots in various material beliefs. When, through Christian Science, the baselessness of these limitations is uncovered and the pertinent spiritual facts are recognized, business requirements and family obligations are reconciled. Harmony is then restored.

The fundamental belief detrimental to harmonious living is that man is a mortal personality with powers of his own to originate, transform, and manage. Under the influence of this false concept the businessman is inclined to feel a very personal sense of responsibility for the activities under his jurisdiction. He may also take personal pride in their operation. The truth is that God, not human selfhood, is the source of all right activities.

Christ Jesus, the most successful man ever known, said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." ^{John 5:19;} God is omniactive Mind, governing His entire creation including man. Instead of being a personal agent and manager, man is God's image, or idea, reflecting the omniactivity of Mind and the government of Principle. Our sole responsibility is to express God. This is our reason for being.

The realization that man does not create, but reflects, removes the pressure caused by a sense of personal achievement and responsibility. It renders one humble, calm, and poised. Reflection is effortless and harmonious. Consequently the individual who sincerely seeks to reflect spiritual qualities and ideas remains free of tiredness, impatience, and irritability. He manifests serenity, love, and consideration, which increase his efficiency and promote harmony at home and at work.

The economy conceived by Mind, Spirit, is perfect. It is a spiritual state of consciousness characterized by the harmony of Soul, the permanence of Truth, the order of Principle. Life gives it its vitality. Love maintains it in absolute goodness. As one patterns his human economy on the divine, he finds that his various activities form a satisfying whole in which business, homelife, church activity, and recreation are harmoniously proportioned.

That one cannot simultaneously enjoy success in business and happiness at home is one of the lies of mortal mind, or personal, corporeal sense, which pretends that one cannot consistently experience good. God, the source of infinite harmony, does not impart good to His ideas on a piecemeal basis. As the expression of God, man eternally reflects undivided good. Hence it is possible to demonstrate harmony in all phases of one's human experience, in business as well as at home. Only by limiting good in thought would one fail to recognize its universal nature.

Marriage has mutual obligations. Mrs. Eddy declares in Science and Health, "Fulfilling the different demands of their united spheres, their sympathies should blend in sweet confidence and cheer, each partner sustaining the other,—thus hallowing the union of interests and affections, in which the heart finds peace and home." ^{Science and Health, p. 59;}

Just as it is normal for a husband to devote a reasonable portion of his time to his family's needs and interests, even though he may be a very active businessman, a wife is expected to give support to her husband. The best support she can give him is to see him as a spiritual idea, inspired and directed by Mind, Love, instead of a struggling and burdened mortal. As a result, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.... She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." ^{Prov. 31:11, 12;} Seeing man as God made him is true love. Divine Love excludes discord and unfolds everlasting harmony, which blesses the entire family.

It is never too late to heal a home relationship that has become strained because of business pressure. However, great love has to be expressed by both partners—not merely a personal sense of affection but the unselfed love that is the expression of divine Love. Science and Health states, "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way." ^{Science and Health, p. 454;}

As they turn to Mind, Love, for guidance, husband and wife are inspired to take the measures in their respective spheres of activity that will free the husband from undue business pressure and his wife from loneliness and resentment. An important step is to seek to do God's will rather than assert one's personal wishes. As one takes this step, he sees unlimited good unfold in his experience, for God's will for man is good.

The Bible acknowledges, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" ^{Ps. 133:1;} In a loving, Christlike home atmosphere, children obediently and joyfully respond to the Father-Mother God's directions they see reflected in their parents' enlightened guidance. They learn early how to use the power of Truth to solve their problems. They are encouraged to live in accordance with Christly standards, which protect them against the allurements of materiality. By witnessing genuine companionship founded on Love, Principle, they will be strengthened and rightly guided when their turn comes to establish a home of their own. Of children Science and Health says, "Jesus loved little children because of their freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right." ^{Science and Health, p. 236.}

Expressing spiritual qualities and ideas is the essential function of man. Viewed in this perspective, business and marriage are seen, not as two conflicting demands, but as parallel channels. Through them husband and wife and children have the opportunity to fulfill together the one divine demand of expressing God.