Seasons of Life

Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Main Idea: Since we face seasons in life we must have a strategy for each season.

Message Goal: Live strategically and intentionally.

Introduction

In 1640 a black man who was a servant by the name of John Punch ran away with two other white men in an attempt to escape Virginia’s burden of servitude. All three men were caught and served sentences for their crimes. Mr. Punch’s three counterparts were issued sentences of three years. Mr. Punch was given a life sentence and became a slave for the remainder of his life. From this single event, many have concluded John Punch is the English colonies’ first slave. And from this time began the long dark history of the fight for freedom.

Today, I want to talk about to slaves that lived very similar lives that led to two very different outcomes. But before I enter this lesson on these two very different lives, I must say John Punch and his friends made a very conscience and commendable decision to leave the land of servitude. Their attempt was noble and courageous. Perhaps, there’s never a better time to do what they did than “now.”

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther addressed a crowd in Washington, DC during the March on Washington. There were over 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. This event focused on jobs and freedom—attempting to place more attention on the lack of social and economic inequality dealt to African Americans in the United States. In this speech Dr. King stated,

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

It is never a wrong time to fight for and do what is right. Yet, today my sermon is not on the principles of justice. Rather, it is on the importance of strategy.

If I were talking to you about justice and principles of right and wrong I would bring up names like Mr. John Punch, Nat Turner, or many of the other slaves that ran away in courage—many of whom never made it and faced death or a worse condition than what was before. Yet, if I wanted to share with you the principle of strategies, I would share with you the life of another dark colored slave by the name of Joseph.

Defining strategy: Strategy is intentional activity that helps a person accomplish exactly what they desire. This is not simply the attempt to accomplish what they desire, but it is the ability and outcome of accomplishing what one desires.

Strategy is needed to live in every season of your life. Since things change and seasons are different, God is not simply calling us to a life of courage, but a life of intentional decisions. We often resent strategy because that included process. Process requires time. Yet, we are often in a rush, lending ourselves to neither strategy, time, or process.

There’s a season for everything Ecclesiastes 3:1

We look forward to eternity Ecclesiastes 3:11

God establishes Ecclesiastes 3:14

Lessons for Joseph’s Life For Strategy

God gives Joseph a vision, but he allows him to go into slavery. The purpose is because every vision requires the visionary to exposure, and exposure is not always enjoyable.

Joseph endured two forms of prison that taught him how to deal with elevation.

God gave him the skills to develop a strategy for the times the empire would face.

The believer’s strategy is to be faithful no matter the season and trust God is working things out according to His plan.

Genesis 50:14–21 CSB

After Joseph buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone with him to bury his father. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to one another, “If Joseph is holding a grudge against us, he will certainly repay us for all the suffering we caused him.” So they sent this message to Joseph, “Before he died your father gave a command: ‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin—the suffering they caused you.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when their message came to him. His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.