Timing....

So I haven’t written a blog in awhile, but I have continued my study of Ecclesiastes. Today, I’m going to share with you what I learned from Ecclesiastes 3 – again studying it with the help of Warren Wiersbe’s commentary, Be Satisfied.


In this chapter, Solomon is beginning to examine his first argument regarding the monotony of life. He discovers four factors that must be considered before one can say that life is monotonous and meaningless:

1. He saw something above man, a God who was in control of time and who balanced life experiences (3:1-8)

2. He saw something within man that linked him to God – eternity in his heart (3:9-14)

3. He saw something ahead of man – the certainty of death (3:15-22)

4. He saw something around man – problems and burdens of life (4:1-5:9)

The first eight verses of the chapter are what really spoke to me while I was studying. They are about how God orders time. If we cooperate with God’s timing, life will not be meaningless. He has a time for everything. I really took this section to heart because lately I have been mad at time. I am ready for it to be time for graduation. I have actually never felt this strongly about wanting to be done with school before – and yet, I am only about half way through this degree. As I was reading these verses though, God just spoke to me and told me that His timing is perfect. I am in school at this time for a purpose and me wanting to rush it or me not really being in the moment is only telling God that I don’t care about the opportunities He is giving me in this present time. I have realized that life in law school is not monotonous and meaningless. It may feel that way at times as I read case after case and brief them all and go to class and discuss them all – over and over – but I have realized that each class, each reading, each person I talk to during the day – God has placed them all in my life at this TIME for a purpose. God’s timing is perfect and I must simply rely and trust on that.

The next section of chapter 3, Solomon looks within our hearts and sees eternity (vs. 9-14). In verse 9, he repeated his opening question of chapter 1 verse 3 – is all this labor really worth it. He gives three answers after looking at life with God in it. First, man’s life is a gift from God (vs. 10). If we believe and accept this, we will have a better attitude toward the burdens that come our way. That is so true. When we believe, truly believe, that every moment of life is a gift from God, our attitude will completely change towards what we face in life. Even yesterday, when it snowed and was so cold, that day was a gift from God – even if I did not appreciate the cold – that day was a gift and my attitude toward the day should have been joyful instead of full of anger at the fact I had to scrape the snow and ice off my car after having a weekend of 70 degree weather. Second, Solomon points out that man’s life is linked to eternity (vs. 11). He explains why nobody can be satisfied with his or her endeavors and achievements, or is able to explain the enigmas of life. Finally, in verses 12-14, he shows that man’s life can be enjoyable now – with God in it.

Finally, in verses 15-22, Solomon looks ahead and sees that death is coming to all. In verse 15, he assures us that God is in control of the cycle of life. He also adds a new thought in these verses – “and God will call the past to account” (vs. 15). At the end in verses 19-21, he points out that men and beasts all live and die and their bodies turn to dust, but men and beasts do not have the same experience at death.

Overall, Solomon has reminded me that God’s timing is always perfect and He holds everything in control. I need to keep that in mind daily, every minute, and remember that every moment is a gift from Him and that He does not waste a moment of time on any of us.