“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)
I suppose that each person comes to our passage from a unique perspective. And perhaps each perspective is correct from that vantage point. We don’t usually give much thought to the theology or biblical principles behind this passage. Since this is “wisdom” literature, we just expect it to be too profound to explore or so obvious that it needs no further explanation.
Time. The created brevity of human life. The initial frontier of the individual. This is the story of Adam Adamah and his descendants. It is a 70 year mission to learn about, worship, and prepare to personally meet God, the Creator. Yet, when humans consider time, we think of time zones or how long it will take for us to finish a task or arrive somewhere. Of course, business people seem to think in terms of time as money. But what about time as appropriately scheduled events to be enjoyed. Such a consideration gives one pause to think about the ramifications of events and scheduling and appropriateness. Who is doing the scheduling? What is an event and how might it be considered enjoyable? How is appropriateness decided and by whom? Who decides when an event is appropriate? And so goes the philosophical thinking that is applied along this continuum of life. The various “events” are supplied for us in the wisdom passage (3:2-8), but our perceptions of them, as either appropriate or enjoyable, are affected by our self-awareness of where we are in our life mission.
Dear Father, thank you for the providences of your grace. Empower us with faith for this event of time. Enable us to gratefully receive the events of time as they pass through our lives. Open our eyes so that we may understand them relative to your will. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in this season of your life,