A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.

The book of Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon, it is one of three books that he is credited with writing, Song of Solomon and the book of Proverbs being the other two. In the book of 1 Kings we understand that God offered King Solomon anything he wished for and he was given wisdom as his reward. 1Kings 3:5 & 9 tells us, "5God said, Ask what you wish me to give you." And Solomon answered, "9So give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours." God was pleased with Solomon's petition and his response, "Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you."

Solomon enjoyed a long life of great riches and tremendous knowledge and in the end, Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes regard life as vanities. "For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?" Ecc 2:22

Like life itself, the seasons move swiftly from one to another without regard for things that still remain undone and a need for our attention. A continuous circle of life rolls from season to season, some more demanding than others; for me, fall into winter requires the most preparation, and yet it is my favorite. In anticipation of cold, snow-covered grounds, our gardens are harvested and put to bed, leaves are raked or mowed and firewood is stacked and made ready to provide warmth throughout the cold of winter; summer things are tucked away to be preserved for the next round of longer days and shorter nights, seemingly in the distant future. We strive and hope that our efforts will result in something meaningful. "Moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor--it is the gift of God." Ecc 3:13

King Solomon teaches us that there is a time for everything; "there is a time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear 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 throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace." Ecc 3:1-8

Closing Thoughts:

If we're not careful, we can easily forget that time is marked not by seasons but by our Heavenly Father who has a divine appointment for everything. "And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it." Ecc 3:14

Ecclesiastes 3:11

"Yet God made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end."

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."