Even so, patience is required in waiting for God to make everything beautiful in its time.
We begin in Ecclesiastes today with the familiar passage, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (chapter 3:1). Songs have been written from these verses and this passage is often read at funerals. Dr. Stanley encourages us not to run ahead of God's timing. He says, "In His wisdom and sovereignty, God sets an appropriate time for everything". He mentions that "Christ was born at the right time". We might add that Christ will also return at God's appointed time. When we are young, we wish we were older; when we are older, we sometimes long for our younger days. Being content with our immediate situation is a valuable lesson for us as this is the point where we either take matters into our own hands or wait for God.
"What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?" Solomon says he has seen the "God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied" and points out in verse 13, that enjoying the fruit of our labor is a gift from God. Without a proper education and a strong work ethic, this gift may remain unopened resulting in "boredom" and a life lacking in satisfaction. In too many situations, people trade the opportunity for a productive life for trivial pursuits that lack specific goals and thus never experience the satisfaction that accomplishment brings.
Verse 11: "He has made everything beautiful in its time". Many things do not start out as "beautiful", but take time as well as patience to progress to beauty. Isaiah 61:3, adds to our understanding of this concept. Here, God promises a time when He will "give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness". This encourages us to be patient and to trust God to bring about a beautiful outcome whether in this life or in eternity. In verse 11, (speaking of eternity), Solomon writes, "He has put eternity in their hearts". There is an emptiness in everyone that can only be filled by God. Few recognize this need for what it is and thus we see an unending pursuit of pleasure, relationships, and the acquiring of "stuff". Some do recognize is as a spiritual need and attempt to find a religion or religious practices that will fill this void. However, there is no substitute for a relationship with God. (We were created to have a relationship with Him, but until we recognize we are separated from God by our sins, repent of our sins, and accept Christ's sacrifice as payment for them, we cannot enter into this relationship.)
It is interesting that our scriptures in Psalm continues the same theme we saw in Ecclesiastes of a "time for every purpose". It speaks of a time of mercy for Zion: "a time to favor (Zion), yes, the set time has come". We need to wait and hope in God's time for whatever we need. Remember the idolatry of Aaron and the Israelites and the tragedy of King Saul? Moses was on the mountain with God and his return to camp was delayed (Exodus 32). The people became impatient and convinced Aaron to fashion a golden calf for them to worship. Without Moses' appeal to God, Israel in its entirety may have been destroyed by God. Saul failed to wait for the prophet Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice to God. In his impatience, Saul also took matters into his own hands and offered the sacrifice himself. God was not pleased with Saul's impatience and presumptuousness and He removed Saul as King of Israel. There is a tremendous lesson for us in these examples that teach the importance of waiting for God instead of doing what we think is right.
Proverbs 24:3-4: "Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." We previously read about the riches of Solomon that resulted from his request to God for wisdom. There is no reason for us to be "stupid" in any situation. God instructs us that if we lack wisdom, to ask Him for it and He will give it (James 1:5). The key is taking time to recognize that we are less than wise and that we need God's help, then ask Him for it. These two verses paint a beautiful picture of the results we can enjoy when we depend on God.
What we know is not as important to God as our consideration for others. Paul stresses this in I Corinthians 8:1-13, and cautions us about allowing our "liberty" to be a "stumbling block" to those who are weak. He begins this passage by making clear the difference in knowledge and love. "Knowledge puffs up"--and, "if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know". Paul contrasts knowledge with love. He says, "we know that we all have knowledge". We all know stuff, however, Paul reminds us that being known by God because we love Him is much more important than feeling proud about what we know (being puffed up). And if we love God, we will also love one another and therefore show consideration for others rather than flaunting a freedom in Christ that may cause our brother or sister to feel the need to do something contrary to their conscience. (How embarrassing for us to be bragging about "our understanding" of something when God has perfect understanding about everything!) Dr. Stanley brings this passage into perspective by saying that "Knowledge plus love equals a powerful team!" Once again, I see that it is appropriate and that there are many times when I need to "cover my mouth with my hand", seek God's wisdom and wait for Him!
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