"There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; 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 avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; 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." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (HCSB)
“There is a season… turn, turn, turn…” So the famous song goes. Though the songwriter might not have had the same intent as the Teacher in Ecclesiastes, the text nonetheless comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. In that passage, the writer acknowledges that there are different seasons to life, some more enjoyable than others. It also speaks to the thought of the appropriateness of certain timing. While some things are good, sometimes the timing is not right for them.
The Greek language uses two differing words for time. 'Kronos' is the word for sequential time, as in keeping time on our watches. It's where we get our word chronological. But 'kairos' refers to "an undetermined period of time in which something special happens." In the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures the word for time in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is 'kairos'. Every kronos moment has the potential to become a kairos moment. Every moment in your chronological day has the potential of becoming a significant event where God is seen to be at work. In fact, God is always at work in our lives (see John 5:17); the problem is that we too often fail to recognize it, especially on a moment-by-moment basis.
We often seem to have a problem with accepting the season we’re in. When we find ourselves in less than desirable circumstances—a job loss, a car wreck, a diagnosis—we tend to try to get out of the season we’re in as quickly as possible. In fact, many spend the majority of their lives either looking back or looking forward.
We think longingly about how things used to be—back when the kids were small (or before kids), back when life was simpler, back when the economy was better. Or we tend to drown ourselves in thoughts about the future—what life will be like when we’re finally out of debt, or when the promotion comes through, or when we can finally buy our own home or take that dream vacation. Because of the pain in the present we look to the past or long for the future. We too easily miss God at work in our present.
Even though it’s OK for us to remember the past fondly and to look longingly toward the future, especially our future in heaven, we have to live in the present. And God has things to teach us, work for us to do, and opportunities for us to lay hold of…right now. If we’re always looking behind or way in front we miss the present.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 begins, "He has made everything appropriate in its time." Nothing happens by accident. Everything that enters our lives, and indeed the world, crosses the desk of our sovereign God who must first give His stamp of approval. God uses the good, the bad, and the ugly for His purposes. Nothing is wasted or random. Why else do we sing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" in our churches? What is so wondrous about a place of shameful execution, where the sinless, innocent Son of God was slain by His own murderous created beings? It was appropriate at that time, because Jesus' death was the ransom for the sins of the world. "But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5 (HCSB)
What is God doing in the moments of your life? Every kronos moment has the potential to become a kairos moment. Let's heed the advice the Apostle Paul gave in Ephesians 5:15-16 (HCSB): "Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk - not as unwise people but as wise - making the most of the time, because the days are evil." Make the most of every moment, every event, every day, every opportunity. Pray that God's Spirit would open your eyes to where God is working in each moment. Live in the present, even though it might be difficult. Who knows? You might actually find a blessing there you would ordinarily have missed.
Follow this link to a YouTube Video Playlist of 19 videos related to the themes of this month's Bible Studies for Life study in Ecclesiastes.
BSFL Sunday School Commentary for the week of January 10, 2010
Wrestling With Time Ecclesiastes 3
"There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; 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 avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; 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." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (HCSB)
“There is a season… turn, turn, turn…” So the famous song goes. Though the songwriter might not have had
the same intent as the Teacher in Ecclesiastes, the text nonetheless comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. In that passage, the writer acknowledges that there are different seasons to life, some more enjoyable than others. It also speaks to the thought of the appropriateness of certain timing. While some things are good, sometimes the timing is not right for them.
The Greek language uses two differing words for time. 'Kronos' is the word for sequential time, as in keeping time on our watches. It's where we get our word chronological. But 'kairos' refers to "an undetermined period of time in which something special happens." In the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures the word for time in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is 'kairos'. Every kronos moment has the potential to become a kairos moment. Every moment in your chronological day has the potential of becoming a significant event where God is seen to be at work. In fact, God is always at work in our lives (see John 5:17); the problem is that we too often fail to recognize it, especially on a moment-by-moment basis.
We often seem to have a problem with accepting the season we’re in. When we find ourselves in less than desirable circumstances—a job loss, a car wreck, a diagnosis—we tend to try to get out of the season we’re in as quickly as possible. In fact, many spend the majority of their lives either looking back or looking forward.
We think longingly about how things used to be—back when the kids were small (or before kids), back when life was simpler, back when the economy was better. Or we tend to drown ourselves in thoughts about the future—what life will be like when we’re finally out of debt, or when the promotion comes through, or when we can finally buy our own home or take that dream vacation. Because of the pain in the present we look to the past or long for the future. We too easily miss God at work in our present.
Even though it’s OK for us to remember the past fondly and to look longingly toward the future, especially our future in heaven, we have to live in the present. And God has things to teach us, work for us to do, and opportunities for us to lay hold of…right now. If we’re always looking behind or way in front we miss the present.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 begins, "He has made everything appropriate in its time." Nothing happens by accident. Everything that enters our lives, and indeed the world, crosses the desk of our sovereign God who must first give His stamp of approval. God uses the good, the bad, and the ugly for His purposes. Nothing is wasted or random. Why else do we sing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" in our churches? What is so wondrous about a place of shameful execution, where the sinless, innocent Son of God was slain by His own murderous created beings? It was appropriate at that time, because Jesus' death was the ransom for the sins of the world. "But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5 (HCSB)
What is God doing in the moments of your life? Every kronos moment has the potential to become a kairos moment. Let's heed the advice the Apostle Paul gave in Ephesians 5:15-16 (HCSB): "Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk - not as unwise people but as wise - making the most of the time, because the days are evil." Make the most of every moment, every event, every day, every opportunity. Pray that God's Spirit would open your eyes to where God is working in each moment. Live in the present, even though it might be difficult. Who knows? You might actually find a blessing there you would ordinarily have missed.
Follow this link to a YouTube Video Playlist of 19 videos related to the themes of this month's Bible Studies for Life study in Ecclesiastes.