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Can this job be saved? I’m examining five different job situations and asking: As Christians, what should be our course of action if we find ourselves in such a predicament? Here is today’s situation.

You have recently been promoted and now work closely with a new coworker who is a single man. He’s very pleasant to work with, and you get along fine with him. However, you’ve noticed your husband is not too excited about this new job, and it seems to be because of your close working relationship with this single man.

How can you handle this situation so you don’t lose the promotion but still assure your husband he has nothing to worry about this coworker?

I might begin with asking what has caused your husband to have any uneasiness about your working relationship with this man? Is it because your husband tends to be the jealous kind, or have you talked about your coworker so often or so favorably it has aroused his feelings of jealousy? Possibly a change in how you speak of him would solve the problem.

If it’s a little more complicated than that, you must decide what is more important to you: A peaceful relationship with your husband or keeping your promotion. His fear or jealousy may be totally inappropriate and unfounded, but if that’s where he’s coming from, you should do whatever you can to allay those fears.

Have an honest conversation with your husband. Tell him you are willing to forfeit this job if that’s what will resolve this issue. You might consider inviting some coworkers to your home, including this man, so your husband can see for himself that your relationship is purely professional.

Above all else, don’t allow anything to start to replace your feelings and love for your husband. Don’t let the enemy get his foot in this door and try to ruin your marriage. Believe me, many illicit relationships have started just this innocently.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).

This is a time to closely guard your heart.