Will Work for Food

(Proverbs 16:26 KJV)  He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

There is a lot of wiggle room in this verse for creative translation.  Compare this to the NASB.

PRO 16:26 A worker's appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him {on.}

In the English I don’t see a lot in common.  Let’s break it down a little.

“He” (appetite NASB) (5315) is the common word for “soul.”  The second most common translation is “life.”  The two words for “laboureth” (6001a) and (5998) are related words that refer to work. 

It is the inner man that drives us to work.  It is a desire in our hearts to meet needs, fulfill dreams and make a contribution.  This is more than just a need for food.  This is a need for purpose.

So?  What directs your heart?  What will it take to satisfy the appetite of your soul?  There are a lot of temporary fixes, but in the long run, God designed you with what Pascal called a God shaped vacuum in your soul.  Let Him fill it if He has not already done so.