Exhortation Station

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about the importance of diligence and hard work. For example…

Proverbs 10:4
Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise; ⁷ which, having no chief, officer or ruler, ⁸ prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. ⁹ How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? ¹⁰ “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest” — ¹¹ Your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man.

One might suppose King Solomon is advocating for a lifestyle of non-stop work, progress, and productivity. Listen, however, to what he writes in Psalm 127:

Psalm 127:1,2
Unless YHWH builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless YHWH guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. ² It is vain for you to rise up early; to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

As much as Solomon emphasizes diligence, he also recognizes the importance of rest. To be clear, I don’t think his point is to discourage us from rising up early. The Scriptures contain many examples of righteous men and women rising early to seek God, serve, prepare for battle, etc. (See Job 1:5, Joshua 8:10, Proverbs 31:15, Psalm 57:8, and Psalm 119:147.) Solomon’s point, I think, is that it is vain to exhaust ourselves in pursuit of earthly success, knowing that Yahweh cares for His children constantly. If we are not careful, we may find ourselves to be striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:6
One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

Proverbs 23:4,5
Do not weary yourself to gain wealth. Cease from your consideration of it. ⁵ When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

Yeshua echoes this sentiment when He says,

Matthew 6:25-27
“Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?“

Are you rising early to serve, or are you striving after wind? Are you rising early to faithfully accomplish your allotted portion, or are you reaching beyond to try to gain a sense of control?

Even in our desire to serve, I think we can sometimes place on ourselves expectations beyond what Yahweh has set before us. Or, we can become so performance-oriented that we miss the main point. “Martha, Martha,” Yeshua said, “You are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary. For Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).

Yahweh created us to need rest. Sleep, yes, but more than just sleep. If our life consists merely of work, food, and sleep, it can start to feel like we’re on a treadmill. There is a reason Yahweh gave us the Sabbath. There is a reason the sun goes down every 24 hours. If you are finding that your choices are leading to a chronic lack of rest and sleep, it might be time to reflect. Sometimes a little extra rest can be the difference between a week that feels crumby and one that feels delightful. Granted, there are times which call us to lay down personal comforts to provide for our families, serve others, and advance Yah’s kingdom. Some seasons call for more work, while others invite more rest. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The main thing is that we are intentional to seek an appropriate balance in each season.

As a side note, it is interesting that Proverbs 21:5 contrasts diligence with haste. Diligence, I think, is more about intentionality than it is about working all the time. More about endurance than about speed. More about consistency than about momentary bursts of intense productivity.

When it’s time to work, WORK HARD. Give it all you’ve got. Do it with all your might. Put your hand to the plow. Don’t shirk off your responsibility. Rise to the occasion. When it’s time to rest, REST. Rest your hands and your mind. Delight in Yah’s blessings. Cease striving and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Good rest and good work reinforce one another when each is carried out in its time. Whether physically working or resting, let us consistently lay our burdens at His feet, trusting Him to accomplish what concerns us (Psalm 138:8, 1 Peter 5:6,7).

If I could summarize the main points of this post in two sentences, I would say this:

1. Remember to spend time on things that matter
2. Remember to rest

Shalom!