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A Hand Full, A Fist Full


“One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.”  (Ecc 4:6)

That’s how the verse reads in the New American Standard Bible.  Other versions are slightly different.  I’m not going to try to suggest which version appears to have the best translation.  I simply want to look at some of the word pictures the verse creates.

A hand full can have positive connotations.  When we need something and we open our hand to receive it, and we receive what we need, a hand full is wonderful thing.  The contrast is being empty handed or having only enough to fit in the palm of our hands. 

Fists tend to suggest demand or even aggression.  But perhaps more so, a fist full can also present a picture that our fingers have tightly closed over what is in our hands.  That can portray selfishness.

So why mention the word pictures?  Allow me to paint a bit further…

We should look to the Lord to meet our needs.  God Himself opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:16).  We should open our hands to gratefully receive what He provides.  His open hand is also a picture of how we should position our hands, not just open to receive but also open so that we can share with others.

If we do close our fingers over what we’ve received, it should not be out of selfishness but to protect what we’ve received.  We don’t want to drop it or have it snatched out of our hands.  Our fingers should open, when appropriate, to share with others or to invest well as wise stewards of what He has entrusted to us.

But, if you would prefer to view the verse as it appears to be presented to us, the notes in the NET Bible seem helpful.  Three approaches to labor:  (1) the competitive workaholic in 4:4, (2) the impoverished sluggard in 4:5, (3) the contented laborer in 4:6.  The balanced approach rebukes the two extremes.

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