The Sleep of a Laboring Man - Ecclesiastes 5:12

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?”, and in chapter five and verse twelve of his book Solomon said, “the sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much” where we read,

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: 

but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

The verse reads, “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much:” Solomon began with the words, “the sleep” or “the resting, drowsing and dozing” “of a laboring man” which means “pertaining to a person who serves and works” “is sweet” or “exists as honey or sugar”, “whether he eat little” which means “if and in case he, the laboring person, consumes or devours a small amount” “or much” or “or a large amount”. Solomon referred to the pleasant slumber of a person who works whether they work a small or abundant amount.

The verse continues, “but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Solomon added the words, “but the abundance of the rich” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the satiety, plenteousness and copiousness belonging to the noble and wealthy” “will not suffer him” which means “shall not allow or permit him, the rich person” “to sleep” or “to slumber, rest, drowse or doze”. Solomon contrasted the lack of rest and slumber of people who have a numerous amount of wealth with those who simply “labor”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Solomon showed the difference between the slumber and rest that is experienced by a person who serves and works versus a wealthy person who worries about his belongings. God owns everything, and when He gives us a portion of His belongings to enjoy, we should always be of the mindset to serve. Otherwise worry and concern over our “wealth” will rob us of rest and “sleep”. God wants to be in a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He raised Him from the dead after three days so 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 guide us into all truth including the rest in our “labor” and wealth in whatever measure He provides.

Next time Solomon shares about, “riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt”, 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".