A Reason for Every Season

Introduction|

Attention:

You have two types of people—people who make lists and people who don’t make lists. Some people plan around their schedule. We might call these schedule oriented planners. My wife is one of those individuals. She plans her day, week, and month with a schedule. If something interrupts her timeline, she gets on edge because something “came up” that wasn’t planned. On the other hand, some people are task-oriented works. I’m one of those individuals. So, at the beginning of the week, I take a note pad and write down all of the tasks that need to be accomplished that week. Then, I begin to complete the various tasks for the week based upon matters of importance. While a schedule ordinated planner uses time to determine tasks, a task-ordinated people are not as much focused upon the exact time for the task as long as it gets done by the deadline or needed time..

Background:

The Book of Ecclesiastics is Solomon’s attempt to satisfy his “hunger to see how the totality of life fits into a meaningful pattern.” As you study through the book, he presents how many of the pursuits of man are vanity or meaningless. Solomon, the wisest man on earth, realized the futility of things like wisdom, work, pleasure, and wealth. When you reach the conclusion of the Book, Solomon recognizes that the only meaningful pursuit in life is one’s relationship with his Creator. Solomon says that the conclusion is to “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (, ESV). He opens his work with a simple observation that summons up his conclusion—“all is vanity/meaningless/futile/empty” (). He learned in his pursuit of meaning that wisdom is futile without God (). He opens the second chapter with the realization that the pursuit of pleasure is futile without God (). In the final portion of the second chapter, he recognizes that work without a purpose is also meaningless (). In Ecclesiastics 2:24-26, the teacher says with confidence that “Life must be viewed and valued as a gift from the hand of God.” He then moves into a discussion on time! As we come to the central text of our message, Solomon says that time stands upon the control of God’s sovereign plan and purpose.

Need Element:

Since time stands under the control of an all-knowing and all-powerful God, how should we respond to the various seasons of life? Life comes with many highs and lows that are divinely appointed and permitted by God for a purpose. See, God has a reason for every season of life! While we might not be able to see it, He uses the various rhythms of life to fulfill His plan and purpose. In our time together this evening, I want us to learn how to appreciate every season of life.

Big Idea:

God wants us to appreciate every season of life!

Interrogative:

How can we appreciate every season of life?

Outline|

I. We can appreciate every season of life by realizing God’s governance of time (vv. 1-8)

Explanation:

The teacher/preacher, who is Solomon, continues his discussion on the meaninglessness of life without the Lord. He shifts from the meaninglessness of life without the Lord to the meaningfulness of life with the Lord.

He begins with a description of time (vv. 1).

As finite humans, we know nothing but time because we are creatures of time. We have a beginning (our birth) and an end (our death). However. God is separate from time. He has no beginning or end because He is eternal and infinite. God exists outside of time yet, present in time. However, time can be measured in two forms—Chronos and Kairos time. The Greek word Chronos refers to a specific time (e.g., 6:25 pm). It is measurable about of time (e.g., 60 seconds equals 1 minute, 60 minutes equals 1 hour, 24 hours equals 1 day, 365 days equals 1 year, etc.). However, the Greek word Kairos refers to a season of time (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Planting Season, Harvest Season, Deer Season, etc.). Both terms (Chronos and Kairos) reflect the meaning and intention of the Hebrew terms zemān (a measurable time) and weēt’ (a season or an occasion of time).

The teacher views life as a series of seasons or occasions (vv. 2-8).

Some seasons are joyful, and some seasons sorrowful. Some seasons require action, and some seasons require stillness. Nevertheless, God knows and controls every specific moment and every season. Someone needs to hear what I’m about to say: NOTHING catches God off-guard or surprises Him. Brother or Sister, He knows what you are facing, and He alone controls the narrative. When you realize that God knows and controls everything, you can begin to appreciate every season of life.

Application:

As you face your season of life, you can trust God because he controls your story! Along with trusting Him, you can praise Him because he is working all things for your good and His glory. Finally, you can rest in his loving and caring arms!

II. We can appreciate every season of life by recognizing God’s goodness (vv. 9-11)

Explanation:

At this point, Solomon asks a reasonable question: what profits does a man gain from his toils? He makes several observations about God’s goodness that answer this question.

First, he recognizes the excellence of God’s goodness.

The word translated “beautiful” in our King James Bible carries the idea of something being appropriate or excellent. Come in close, God has an excellent purpose for every season of life. God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. So, you and I need to learn to recognize the excellence of God’s goodness.

Secondly, he recognizes the vastness of God’s goodness.

The word “World” can be translated as eternity—he has placed eternity in their hearts. The vastness of God’s goodness and purpose is unfathomable to the finite human mind. Thus, “no man can find out/fathom (NIV) the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. It is not until you, and I enter into the halls of eternity that you and I will begin to comprehend the totality of His infinite goodness fully.

Application:

As we begin to recognize God’s goodness, we begin to gain a true appreciation for every season of life. Just for a moment, I want to back up from your season of life and try to recognize the goodness of God. It might be that God is still providing for your needs. Maybe, through your trips to the doctor’s office, you have been allowed to build a relationship with someone who needs Him as their Lord and Savior. God’s goodness ought to produce an attitude and action of praise and worship. As you go through the changing seasons of life, you can cling to the unchanging one who is good in all of his ways! When we recognize God’s goodness in every season, it helps us develop an appreciation for those seasons of life.

III. We can appreciate every season of life by rejoicing over God’s gifts (vv. 12-13)

Explanation:

Solomon helps his readers gain an appreciation for God’s gifts to his people. Now, it is important to understand that Solomon is not encouraging pagan hedonism but the enjoyment of “God’s gifts as the fruit of one’s labor, no matter how difficult life may be.” In the words of the teacher, there is nothing better “to rejoice, and to do good” (NKJV). He provides us with three actions: 1) rejoice over life, 2) do good in life, and 3) enjoy the fruits of our labor in life. We can begin to appreciate every season of life by rejoicing and enjoying God’s gifts. He adds in : “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him the power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.”

Application:

You and I can rejoice over God’s gifts to us like breath in our lungs, food on our tables, a roof over our heads, eternal life through our Lord and Savior, a loving and supportive church, family, godly friends, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, etc. You and I are also to enjoy these gifts. When we learn to rejoice over God’s gifts, this action helps us gain an appreciation for God’s beautiful gifts.

IV. We can appreciate every season of life by revering God’s greatness (vv. 14-15)

Explanation:

Solomon concludes his discussion on seasons of life by observing the greatness of God that produces a response of fear.

First, we notice the greatness of God in His eternal acts (vv. 14).

The acts of God are sure and steadfast. The phrases “can be put” and “taken away” carry the idea of adding and subtracting from God’s works. Thus, nothing “can be added to it and nothing taken from it” (, NIV).

Secondly, we notice the greatness of God in His eternal knowledge (vv. 15).

The preacher says: “that which has been is now and that which is to be has already been.” God, because of his nature, sees the whole of time. The knowledge of God is clearly seen in the final portion of the verse—God seeks what is past/what is pursued! For humanity, the present becomes the past, and the future becomes the present. Thus, the past is nothing more than a fading memory. However, God will call the past to account because He is the Lord and judge His entire creation .

Application:

How should you and I respond to the greatness of God? We respond with an attitude and action of reverence for his holiness, righteousness, and omnipotence. When you understand the greatness of God’s acts and knowledge, you can begin to appreciate every season of life because God is already there and knows what’s around the corner of time. He knows what’s going to happen next week, next month, and next year.

Conclusion/Application|

Reiteration:

God reminds us tonight that we can appreciate every season by: 1) realizing God’s governance of time, 2) recognizing God’s goodness, 3) rejoicing over God’s gifts, and 4) revering God’s greatness!

Action:

Our passage tonight summons us to trust God with our lives. You can truth Him tonight because He is faithful. It also invites us to rejoice over God’s generous gifts. Brother or sister, you have so much to be thankful for tonight! You can celebrate because God is good. Finally, our passage invites us to respond to the Lord with an attitude and action of fear and respect. The reason for every season is the plan and purpose of God!

Appeal:

As we close tonight, I want to ask you a simple question: do you appreciate every season of life because God is in control of your life?