Balancing Work and Play
He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
This proverb shows us what happens when we spend more time entertaining ourselves than working.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying pleasurable activities, including eating and drinking—yet these must be balanced with work (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
Riches and wealth don’t come by pleasure (or partying, as the original Hebrew implies), but rather by hard work (Proverbs 10:4; 13:4). Yet working too much is not good either (Psalm 127:2).
On one extreme, working too much may bring more wealth, but there will be less time for the simple pleasures of life (like enjoying time and good food with friends). And on the other extreme, spending too much time relaxing and eating will lead to poverty because not enough time is spent working to pay for the necessities of life.
God wants us to be balanced in all areas of life. There is a time for work, and a time for play. It is by keeping them properly balanced that we can enjoy both wealth and pleasure (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20).
To learn more about having this proper balance in your life, read our article “Hard Work.”
Tomorrow on the Daily Bible Verse Blog:
