It is in vain that you rise up early
Psalms 127:2 (ESV)
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Anxiety seems to be prevalent in all societies. Modern society has not reduced our anxiety; instead, it seems to have magnified it. We are in a pandemic of anxiety in America and our youth are especially afflicted. Anxiety treatment is a huge industry. Most of us are tempted to be anxious by our financial circumstances. We are anxious about having enough to afford what we need to sustain a moderate standard of living.
But the Psalmist (Solomon) warns us against anxious work. If you are working so much that you are “late to rest” and not getting the sleep you need, then maybe anxiety is driving your daily routine. Is this what the Lord wants from his children? If the God of all creation is our Father should we let anxiety about finances deprive us of rest and sleep?
Instead, the Psalmist wants to shatter our anxiety with one phrase: “He gives to his beloved sleep.” We are God’s beloved. He is our loving Father and he wants us to have rest. This is why Jesus said:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
So God wants to encourage us that we can rest through Christ. We do not have to anxiously work all day and neglect our rest and sleep. If we come to Jesus with faith and wisdom then he will find a way to provide rest. Therefore, it is important to examine your life and ask yourself if you work in anxiety, do you fear poverty? Are you anxious about having enough for retirement? Are you getting rest for your soul? Are you getting enough sleep? While it is true that we need to be diligent and wise about finances, we do not need to be anxious because we are his beloved and he wants to give us rest.
