"What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Get to the office and start working".

These recent comments from an Indian CEO raise two critical questions:

• Is relationship with spouse (and children), such a waste of time?

• What is the 'ultimate purpose' of life?

Family is the foundation of society

Families are the foundation of Society. The stronger the families are, societies thrive. "The family is the basic and important unit of society because of the role it plays in the generation of human capital resources and the power that is vested in it to influence individual, household, and community behavior (Sriram, 1993)"[1]. If corporations must thrive, societies must thrive. If societies must thrive, families must thrive. In other words, Family is the foundation of society.

Morality is the foundation of family

Morality (ethics/corporate governance) is the bedrock of any organization meant to last. Nothing can effectively replace these 'Moral Codes'. The same is true for families. In fact, it is 'moral humans' who create 'moral families,' and 'moral families' that create moral societies in which 'moral organizations' thrive.

Moral behavior is the outworking of morality

Looking beyond 'oneself' and displaying 'selflessness' is the ultimate display of moral behavior. Selfless love, kindness, respect, commitment etc. are the essential moral behaviors that are required in dealing with spouse and children. All these behaviors are the manifestation of a person's moral moorings. (In fact, Morality itself is anchored in the 'absolute moral being,' i.e., God. If God is not in the equation, 'immoral behavior' becomes the norm. Making a profit 'AT ANY COST' stems from such 'immoral' tendencies.).

Selfless love is the core of moral behavior

Love is the basis of all characteristics. That is why the philosophical statement 'God is love'[2] is highly accurate. The concept of 'God' cannot exist if this 'basic characteristic' is missing.

Every other human character trait is either a 'presence' or an 'absence' of love. For example, jealousy, revengefulness, and selfishness etc. are nothing but absence of love. Empathy, commitment, kindness, and self-sacrifice, etc., herald the presence of love.

Love is not a passive emotion. It expresses itself through these moral behaviors. When we love, we express it through our commitment to 'invest' our resources in the object of our love. Simply sitting and 'staring' either at a spouse or boss are both poor choices. Get Love to work! Love is harder work than any work in the office! If you care for nation building, start it at home!

Time is the ultimate resource to express love

One of the most powerful and scarce resources that any human has is time. This resource is 'limited'. If one refuses to 'invest' this resource adequately to 'family', he is grossly 'depriving' the stake holders at home.

Ultimate purpose of life lies beyond the visible

The story of a rich fool narrated by Jesus around 2000 years ago is relevant. Building wealth and indulging in selfish behavior became the 'motto' of this man's life. One night, God asked him this question - “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have?"[3]. Ultimate purpose cannot be found in either work or any human relationships. It can get realized only through a relationship with the ultimate moral being. Right relationships with Work and Family emanate from a right relationship with the Creator.

References

[1] Understanding families in India: a reflection of societal changes; Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)

[2] Bible - 1 John 4:8

[3] Bible - Luke 12:16-20