Certainly kings understand what it means to bear the
responsibility of leadership over a nation, over armies, and to consistently be
aware of head hunters. That’s why Psalm 127 is unique since it was written
by Solomon—both the son of a king and one who succeeded his father David to the
throne. What we find in this short psalm is a reminder that we are to work hard
for the glory of God and sleep well.
How many people do you know who can’t sleep because they
are so worried about their work? Often such people pride themselves in burning
the candle at both ends. In our culture of greed, it’s an honorable character
trait to work endless hours, go to bed late and rise up early to continue the
labor. The world cheers on that type of unending rat race of selfish ambition.
Solomon understood what it was like to go to bed at night
with a nation depending upon him. He understood what it was like to rise up
early with people looking to him for firm and consistent leadership. Yet,
Solomon in a great stroke of wisdom, pens the following words:
It is
in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious
toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep (Psalm 127:2).
Solomon was looked to as an earthly sovereign, but as a
child of God he understood that God was the Sovereign King who rules and reigns
over the entire world. R.C. Sproul has rightly stated, “If there is one single
molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s
sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever
be fulfilled.”
Nothing moves or exists without the sovereign decree of God. All
things are under the rule of God including, heaven, earth, clouds, rain, snow,
ice, bees, bears, locusts, lions and thrones. God literally holds our next
breath in His hands.
If you know anything about American cities, the city of New
York is nicknamed “the city that never sleeps.” The city is always full of
lights and cars and people. It’s common to see people always moving about—going
to work, carrying out their labor and trying to move up the corporate ladder
all hours of the day and night.
Often, Christians fall into the trap of eating
the bread of anxious toil like the rest of our culture. Charles Spurgeon
explains, “Through faith the Lord makes his chosen ones to rest in him in happy
freedom from care…those whom the Lord loves are delivered from the fret and
fume of life.” [1]
The Baptist catechism asks a very important question. It
asks, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is provided, “To glorify God and
enjoy Him forever.” When we rise up early and prepare for work and then go out
and perform our labor for the glory of God, we should return home tired and
sleep well at night. However, when our labor is carried out with selfish
ambition we will continue to work and seldom slow down to sleep and rest in
God—who never sleeps.
If we learn to work hard for an honest day’s wage—we can
trust in God who always provides for His people (Matt. 6:33). If a person
labors for selfish purposes, it naturally produces anxiety and inner turmoil to
be successful.
The next time you are tempted to think you are responsible to
keep the whole world moving forward—remember your body will eventually tell you
that you need sleep. It’s a simple reminder that you aren’t God. It’s also a
blessing to rest and have assurance that God is never sleeping, He is always
alert, and God is able to honor the labor that is carried out for His glory.
Each day we should work hard, come home tired and sleep well.
- Charles
Spurgeon, Psalms, Crossway Classic Commentaries, ed. J.
I. PACKER, “Introduction,” (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 273.
This article originally appeared here.
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