The Wisdom of Time

Introduction

General

I never like it when authors (or movies) introduce time travel… I do, however, find the theory of relativity to be fascinating. Time is a very through-provoking concept.

Quotes about time

“Time is a storm in which we are all lost.” —William Carlos Williams

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can spend it. You can’t keep it, but you can use it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” —Harvey Mackay

“Time is the great enemy.” —Winifred Holtby

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” —William Penn

Personal: How do you use your time? How much of our lives do we spend trying to control time? Our time will eventually run out. How can life have meaning when we know it will end?

Subject: How can we live the good life when we are nothing but leaves carried along on the river of time? How can we find meaning in a life that is governed by time?

Body

Everything has a time. Accept it. There is a season for everything. Submit to it.

Exposition (Eccles 3:1-8)

Everything has a season—and it’s outside of our control. We can’t change it. We can’t avoid it. We can’t speed it up or slow it down. We will not find meaning in life by trying to change the season God has ordained for us.

Good times, hard times. Times of plenty, times of living paycheck to paycheck. Seasons of victory and seasons of loss.

We expend so much energy, effort, and stress trying to avoid hard times in life. And when we’re in a season of suffering, the first question we ask is, “What’s the fastest way out?”

There is no fastest way out. I can’t make 12:00 come before its time (even if I set my watch ahead).

If we can’t change it, what do we do? Figure out what time is, accept it, and wait on the Lord.

Illustration: Heard about LifePoint in January… See Isa 40:31.

Application: What time is it? Don’t try to avoid it or pretend it’s a different season. Deal with whatever needs to be dealt with in this season. Don’t try to escape it through pornography, alcohol, prescription pain killers, comfort food, or binge-watching. Don’t try to distract yourself through overworking, over-scheduling your social life, or filling every free moment with your phone. Everything has a time. Accept it.

God has a purpose for every time. Live in harmony with it. God has work for every season. Join him in his work.

Exposition (Eccles 3:9-15)

Verse 11a — Beauty = fulfilling the design and purpose for which God created it, e.g., laughing vs. weeping.

Verse 11b — We have the desire for eternity but not the capacity to understand eternity. Why? So that our hearts would be drawn to God’s.

I don’t have the capacity to see from the beginning to the end, but I know the One who is the Alpha and the Omega.

I don’t have the capacity to grasp the concept of eternity, but I know the One who was, and is, and is to come.

I don’t have the capacity to count the stars, but I know the One who gave every star its name.

I don’t have the capacity to deal with all the evil in world (or even in my own heart), but I know the One who redeemed us from the curse by becoming a curse for us on the cross.

Verse 14 — It is God’s purpose that matters most and leads to a meaningful life. God works in every season—even in loss—to draw your heart to his. In him we have life.

Illustration: Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Christ. God is the melody, we are the harmony.

Application: Do I trust that God knows what’s best better than I do? Am I willing to be the harmony to his melody?

Our time under the sun is limited. Make the most of it. Your days are numbered. Don’t waste your time.

Exposition (Eccles 3:16-22)

Life is short. Our days are numbered. Our time is running out. So what should we do? Live. Really live. See vv. 22, 12-13.

The Christian message is not, “Abstain from life.” Jesus invites us to live, full and abundant and eternal life. Savor and enjoy every moment and every breath—not for self-fulfillment but for the glory of God. (see Ps 118:24).

Illustration: Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now… “Wherever you are, be all there.” —Jim Elliot… “If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance.” —Professor…

Application: Ps 118:24… What are you doing with the gift of today?

Conclusion

The good life is found when we accept the reality of time, live in harmony with God’s purpose, and make the most of the limited time we’ve been given under the sun.

Prayer

What time is it?

Where am I not in harmony with your purpose?

What would you have me do today?