November 13, 2023
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Reading along with us in Ecclesiastes? Here’s today’s reading:
Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV)
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,……Continue Reading
There is a vague faith in this chapter trusting that there is a time for everything implies that there is a God in control. Not that credit is given to God and that there is care and perfect planning went into these times but that there is an order to things.
Again we see the idea that we live, we work, we die attitutde and takes it to the point of our similarity to animals which we know God has made us different than the animal with the ability to care and love one another in a much deeper way as a reflection of Him. We were created as caretakers of this earth and the animals not simply as another animal.
When we chose a life of faith in God and the gift of hope and salvation that comes with it, we have a shift in perspective that Solomon doesn’t have here.
And btw…was I the ony one singing The Byrds song Turn Turn Turn at the end of reading this chapter!?!? lol
2 Thessalonians 3; Ecclesiastes 1-3; 2 Samuel 8-10
Time for everything…. sometimes, all I can do is wait.
Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon is making the point that God has a plan for all of us. We have to remember everything is in God’s timing, he knows our heart. I like verse 14 where he says I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13
10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
12 ¶ I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
Such a contrast when he considers work “under heaven” (with God) than when he was considering it “under the sun” (without God) in chapter 1. Same with the repeated phrase “That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.” In chapter 1 “under the sun” it was depressing and about how useless everything is. In chapter 3 “under heaven” it’s a comforting testimony to God’s glory and that what he does is eternal and unchanging.
Also yes Kelly of course we were singing “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
Well said Kelly about God having a time table for everything. Actually Melodye played that Byrds song turn, turn, turn to me this morning. So I guess alot of us were thinking of that song. In verses 20,21 Solomon is saying that all animals and people return to the dust from which they came for none is better than the others. But mankind was made after the image of God. We are eternal beings who will live after we die physically and will either be in Heaven or Hell. Solomon does bring it up and says who knows whether man goes upward and animals go downward to the earth. But God does know and He sent His Son to die on the cross for all mankind because of their sins and then rose three days latter conquering death. God bless us all.
The balance that is found in life is expressed well here. How glad we can be that we have God and His Word to guide to know which side of the balance we should be on. It should also remind us to not be too black and white about things, except when the Word calls for it, and be open to other points of view on the balance. And there is an aspect of truth to find satisfaction in work and the blessings that come with it….but it also doesn’t end there when we recognize all that God would call us to, equip us for and bless us with. Relationship with God just makes life bigger than just circumstance and possession. And there are similarities and differences between us and animals. We are the same in our physical aspect….born, live, die. But we bare the image of God and they don’t. SO there is wisdom in Solomon’s words but also shortsightedness in missing the big picture.
Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 3 love the song based on this verse.
There is a time for everything, and wisdom is discerning what to do and when to do it. God makes everything beautiful in its own time. Us included, we are being transformed into something beautiful as we live our lives. Let us strive to stay in the moment, enjoy our work, and do it for the Lord so that we can find ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment in it.