Ecclesiastes 3: A Time for Everything

A Time for Everything

 

"1For everything there is a season, and

a time for every matter under heaven:

 

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

 

3a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 

4a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

 

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 

5a time to cast away stones,

 and a time to gather stones together;

[Today’s English Version (TEV) states this line as 

“the time for making love and a time for not making love.”]

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 

6a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 

7a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 

8a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace."

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

 

Watching the seasons change recently has gotten me thinking about seasons in the spiritual realm. We have our dry seasons where we don't hear God or feel Him near us as we drag our tired feet through this spiritual Sahara. We have our fruitful seasons where loving God and others is easy and we can see how God is blessing us so clearly.

 

So what's the recipe for getting out of the desert and into the spiritual tropics? As I read this article about Ecclesiastes 3 by Keith Krell, I found this nugget of truth: 

 

"Is it possible for you and me to worship God in these differing seasons? Is it possible to find joy in the midst of your sickness, to find dependency upon Him in the midst of your failing health? Is it possible to be close to God in ever-changing circumstances? If you only thank God in seasons of great health and prosperity you will not be thanking God very much, because those seasons ebb and flow like the tide. We are to find joy in the midst of each season and in the transition between them." -Keith Krell (if you're looking for further study on Eccl. 3, read this sermon!).

 

As Keith Krell said at the end of this study, Soloman here is warning us to expect change. Change happens. Death happens. War happens. But will we thank God in every season? Will we praise him in the Winter when the sun (and the Son) feels far from us and in the Spring where we bask in the sun (in the Son)? Will we search for joy in the midst of each season and in those lagging times of transition?

 

All I know is that God is, has, and always will be large and in charge. So that known, I long for my foundation to be set upon the rock, Christ, that I could stand through trials, that I wouldn't thirst in the desert, that I would continue thanking Him when all is well.

 

Prayer: Lord, set our hinds feet on high places, may our eyes be set on You. As we go through our best days and our worst days, may we still have thankfulness in our hearts for all that you have done and are doing and will continue to do. Thank You for being in control, for being able to see the end of our races. Help us to run the race well for You. Thank You Lord. Amen.