Ecclesiastes Chapter Five, A Middle Ground

Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

This verse appears to be the final in a trifecta, or trinity of passages beginning with verse 10. It starts with the greedy man loving silver and abundance but never being satisfied with either. Then verse 11 moves on to the increase of goods and those who purchase them for no genuine benefit other than to possess them and admire them.

Finally, verse 12 contrasts the laboring man with the rich man. The laboring man enjoys sweet sleep, as the preacher words it. In other words, no matter if his labor nets much or little, he puts much energy into it, is satisfied with the labor in and of itself, and rests from an honest day’s exploits. Believers are commanded to work; it was the mandate of God from the beginning. Mankind was not designed for idleness, but labor. Yet in fellowship with God this would not have been intensive, grudging labor, but satisfying and enjoyable. When Adam was created, God didn’t put a harp in his hand and command him to laze about; rather, Adam worked as a farmer. This is revealed in the very nature of the curse on the ground for Adam’s sake, Genesis 3:17-19. Because Adam sinned in disobedience, the ground would no longer naturally yield its bounty to him; by the sweat of his brow and in frustrating toil he would coerce it to bring forth food, see Genesis 3:23. In other words, the curse despoiled the pleasure man would easily and naturally derive from work. More than that, mankind was meant (and is still meant) to have dominion over Earth and its creatures, Genesis 1:28. God gave His creation over to be stewards, governing the planet in His name. How each of us responds to that stewardship is another thing we will answer for when we come face to face with our Creator.

Again, the saints were commanded to work for their food. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat,” 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Going forward with this passage, Paul mentions that he hears how some Christians in their local church are idle busybodies, refusing to work but quite busy sowing gossip. For such people, Paul provides the remedy: “That they work in quietness and eat their own bread,” 2 Thessalonians 3:12. Back to the laboring man, we see him at peace in his sleep, untroubled by the dreams of fools with their many words. Whether he eats much or little he is permitted to rest because he has put in a full, honest day’s labor.

The contrast is the rich man, who for the abundance of their possessions cannot achieve the same rest. Agur, one of the contributors to the book of Proverbs wrote, “Give me neither poverty nor riches–feed me with the food allotted to me,” Proverbs 30:8. He reasons thus for this prayer request by adding, “Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God,” Proverbs 30:9. So, while poverty isn’t in his view, neither is wealth. This is an interesting viewpoint, since American culture is wholly given over to the rabid pursuit of it at all costs. I live in a society where being the best means being the richest, because money answers everything, Ecclesiastes 10:19.

Yet Agur realized, and the preacher agreed, that money does not actually answer everything. New problems rear their heads. The preacher was the wealthiest man of his generation and likely one of the wealthiest men who have ever lived, period. It is safe to assume he knew something about the topic of unrest due to excessive wealth. He also undoubtedly had many affluent friends and colleagues because of his position who confided in the richest man on earth about their monetary woes. The Queen of Sheba herself came from far away to pose many questions that burdened her heart; one may rightly assume that others in similar stations did likewise. The preacher could compose a character study of the rich man, incorporating himself, of course, and their manifold woes due to the burden of wealth. So like Agur, whose wisdom was from God as well, we should conclude with him that it is better to be like the man who labors and sleeps sweetly, than the rich who cannot afford the luxury of untroubled sleep, because their wealth can’t buy it for them.