A Prayer of Gratitude for the Fruits of Our Labor
"¶ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion." - Ecclesiastes 5:18
Heavenly Father,
As I come before You today, I take a moment of pause, reflecting on the wisdom imparted through Your Scriptures. In the words of Ecclesiastes 5:18, You remind us, "Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion."
With a heart full of gratitude, I praise You for the gift of work and the fruits that labor brings into my life and the lives of those around me. It is through Your divine provision that we are able to engage in meaningful work, and for that, I am truly thankful. Each day, as I rise and pursue my tasks, may I do so with a spirit of joy and diligence, knowing that my contributions—big or small—are part of Your grand design.
Lord, help me to recognize the value in each labor I undertake. Whether it is in my profession, my home life, or community service, let me approach my work as not just a means to an end but as an expression of my stewardship over the gifts You have granted me. May I always remember that my true purpose in laboring is not merely to accumulate wealth or material possessions, but to create, nurture, and serve; to honor the talents and abilities that You have blessed me with.
Help me, O Lord, to view the results of my labor through the lens of joy that You desire for me. Enable me to not rush through my labors with a heavy heart or a bitter spirit but to savor the moments in the daily toil. Each meal enjoyed, each drink shared, and each moment spent with loved ones are reminders of the good gifts that come from You. Teach me to take joy in the fruits of my labor as I celebrate them not as rewards but as portions of grace that enrich my life through Your mercy.
Father, in a world that often pushes for more—more productivity, more success, more accolades—let me stand firm in the knowledge that true satisfaction and fulfillment come from enjoying the simple pleasures that life brings. May I be reminded that all days are a gift; let me not take them for granted. In times of exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed by the demands of life, grant me the wisdom to embrace rest and pleasure in the work I’ve done.
I pray for those who struggle to experience joy in the fruits of their labor. There are many who toil yet feel unfulfilled, those burdened with anxiety over life's responsibilities. May Your comfort envelop them. Inspire them with a renewed sense of purpose and highlight the blessings that each day brings forth. Let them see the beauty in their hard work; for even when the journey feels arduous, may they find moments to enjoy and celebrate life’s blessings.
As I go about my days, Lord, may I also extend this perspective to others. In each interaction, let me uplift those around me, encouraging them to savor their blessings as well. Let my light shine through acts of kindness and appreciation for what they contribute. Together, may we create a community that appreciates each other's labor, so that all may partake in the joy of our combined efforts under the sun.
Lastly, remind me always to keep my ultimate focus on You, the giver of all good things. As I walk through each day, may I approach work and life with a heart of worship, giving thanks in all circumstances, for every moment is a precious gift from You. Thank You, Lord, for the sustenance of life and the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of my labor. It is indeed good and comely!
In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen.
Want to pray more deeply over Ecclesiastes 5:18?
Explore this scripture further with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for diving deeper into God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, find related verses, and enrich your faith.
Get Our Apps
Ecclesiastes 5:18 Artwork
Ecclesiastes 5:18 - "¶ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion."
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 - "This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart."
"This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart." - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
"¶ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion." - Ecclesiastes 5:18
Ecclesiastes 5:5 - "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."
Ecclesiastes 1:18 - "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."
Ecclesiastes 10:18 - "¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."
Ecclesiastes 9:18 - "Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good."
Ecclesiastes 5:9 - "¶ Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field."
Ecclesiastes 4:5 - "The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh."
Ecclesiastes 7:5 - "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."
Ecclesiastes 5:7 - "For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God."
Ecclesiastes 5:3 - "For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words."
Ecclesiastes 5:14 - "But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand."
Ecclesiastes 10:5 - "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:"
Ecclesiastes 2:5 - "I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:"
Ecclesiastes 3:18 - "I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts."
"Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." - Ecclesiastes 5:5
Ecclesiastes 1:5 - "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose."
Ecclesiastes 5:10 - "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."
Ecclesiastes 5:13 - "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt."
Ecclesiastes 5:11 - "When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?"
Ecclesiastes 5:17 - "All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness."
Ecclesiastes 8:5 - "Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment."
Ecclesiastes 3:5 - "A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;"
Ecclesiastes 5:20 - "For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart."
Ecclesiastes 6:5 - "Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other."
Ecclesiastes 5:12 - "The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep."
Ecclesiastes 7:18 - "It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all."
"For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." - Ecclesiastes 1:18