Man Does Not Know His Time

Ecclesiastes 9:8–12 NKJV

Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.

Death is the great equalizer in this mortal life.

The rich man dies like the poor man.

The powerful man dies like the weak man.

The master dies like the slave.

The straight man dies like the addict.

The educated man dies like the uneducated man.

The wise man dies like the foolish man.

The successful man dies like the man who fails.

The happy man dies like the unhappy man.

The young man dies like the old man.

The popular man dies like the unpopular man.

The married man dies like the single man.

The healthy man dies like the sick man.

The righteous man dies like the wicked man.

The good man dies like the evil man.

The religious man dies like the non-religious man.

We know the time of our birth, but we do not know the time of our death.

Death is likened to a fish taken in a cruel net.

Death is likened to a bird caught in a snare.

Men are snared suddenly in an evil time.

The Eternal Perspective and a Heart of Wisdom.

God is eternal. We are mortal.

Wisdom is found in developing an eternal perspective.

Psalm 90:12 NKJV

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Foolishness results from living with a mortal perspective.

Every mortal pursuit is vanity… “vain life” and “days of vanity”

Everything in this life is passing away.

We own nothing. We are God’s stewards who must give account to Him.

We can take nothing with us.

There are two things that people think about when they come to the end of life:

Their relationship with their family

Their relationship with God

Focus on your family

Ecclesiastes 9:9 NKJV

Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

Focus on your work for God on earth

Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Charles Spurgeon commented: “One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we ‘find to do’ day by day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present. Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve God. Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. Serve God now, but be careful as to the way in which you perform what you find to do—‘do it with thy might.’”[1]

The Conclusion of the Matter

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NKJV

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Fear God

Keep His commandments

We will give account to God

For our works

For the secret things

For things good or bad

We do not know our time.

We are never ready to die.

We must live in a way that we are prepared to die and meet the Lord.

Are you prepared? Turn to Jesus and believe. He is our only hope.

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

[1]Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers), November 26