©Shannon Gist
Chapter 3:1-13 (ESV) - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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 seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.
What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
Question to consider: Why is it important to enjoy the good and beautiful things in this world?
If you’ve ever wondered why I don’t include section headings or chapter and verse references inside the daily texts, it is because I believe they have the potential to separate ideas in our minds in a way that the author did not intend. The truth is that we should always consider the greater context of a passage to the book in which it is contained, the intent of the author, and the recipient to whom it was written. The book of Ecclesiastes was written by king Solomon as Qoheleth, the teacher of all the assemblies of Judah who were busy in their pursuits in this world. The intent was ultimately to understand that the worship of God should be central to all that they do because everything of this world is meaningless in light of eternity.
The list of “times” at the beginning of this passage is often used for greeting cards or song lyrics but never considered in context with the rest of the passage, and Christians often misuse the idea that “God has put eternity into man’s heart.” This passage should actually be connected to the one from yesterday pertaining to our work in the world. The central point is sandwiched between the idea that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in their work, for it is God’s gift to man.
Solomon reasoned that we should enjoy the fruits of our labor while we can because our successes ebb and flow in the different cycles of time. God may have set our hearts with a desire to live forever, but we are incapable of realizing that desire on our own so we should learn to be content with the moments of beauty God gives us. I think the idea is similar to Paul’s statement to Timothy, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
To the fool who says in his heart, “There is no God,” these moments of beauty are the best he will ever experience. In Christ, we have the promise of resurrection in righteousness where we will enjoy the beauty of God in all its fullness, and the eternity set in our hearts will be satisfied.
Dear heavenly Father, please help us to be content with what You have given us so that we may enjoy the beauty that You still introduce into the world. Thank You for giving us the hope of eternal life in Christ. May we be Your instruments to bring that hope to the nations. Amen.