The Fool Folds His Hands Together - Ecclesiastes 4:5

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit”, and in chapter four and verse five of his book Solomon said, “the fool folds his hands together”, where we read,

The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

The verse reads, “The fool folds his hands together, …” Solomon began with the words, “the fool” or “the stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton and arrogant one” “folds his hands together” which means “embraces and clasps his, the fool’s, physical hands in idleness”. Solomon referred to the way a simpleton and dullard clasps his physical hands in laziness and slothfulness. 

The verse continues, “… and eats his own flesh.” Daniel added the words, “and eats” or “and consumes and devours” “his own flesh” which means “his, the fool’s, own personal flesh of the body”. Solomon shared how the “simpleton” devours and ruins their own life.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon about the person who is a simpleton and dullard. Rather than working, they are lazy and idle. This causes them to consume their own lives. God doesn’t want us to be this way, and because He desires to have a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us into a work of service in His Kingdom which will not in any way lend to idleness. 

Next time Solomon says, “better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".