Ecclesiastes 3

This chapter begins with one of my favorite poems—the “time” poem, that there is “a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (vs 1) At the beginning of this chapter, it seems Solomon has briefly turned his gaze from things “under the sun” to a perspective of things “under the heavens.” And I believe he comes to some very beautiful conclusions:

Don’t worry. There is a time for everything. It is this way even when you love, maybe especially when you love. Because love is not something that always stays static or acts the same. It changes to meet the circumstances and the needs of the beloved. This can be confusing, because we know that God is Love (1 Jn 4:8) and also that He never changes (Mal 3:6). But this does not mean that His methods never change; it means His unfathomable love never changes. Thus, He will “build up” when love requires it and “tear down” when love requires it. Just as parents adapt their parenting methods (sometimes on a daily basis!) to meet the demands and needs of their ever-changing little ones, so God does this with us.

God makes everything beautiful. This must be an “under the heavens” perspective, because Solomon later identifies the “under the sun” perspective: “In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.” (vs 16) Many people look around at the state of things in the world and conclude that either God doesn’t exist or He is not good because evil seems to prevail so often! But that’s only because, as Paul Harvey used to say, we don’t yet know the rest of the story. God’s power is expressed in redeeming suffering, in taking those things which were meant for evil and bringing good from them, in restoring all that which looks ugly into something amazing and beautiful. So no matter what awful things we see when we look around us (or within us!), God has promised (and He is able) to make all those things beautiful in His time.

Enjoy today. Today is all you have! You can’t go back and “redo” yesterday, and you may not be here tomorrow, so make sure you don’t miss out on today. Here’s how Solomon put it: “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” (vs 12-13) Of course, when you’re thinking about making today as pleasurable as possible, you must not forget the lesson from yesterday’s chapter—that true pleasure is rooted in God and His plans for you. Don’t get so busy working for “tomorrow” that you miss out on all the opportunities God has for you today; this is the day the Lord has made, and He wants you to enjoy it!

You were made for eternity. This is related to the previous point. God has “set eternity in the human heart,” (vs 11) and guess what? Do you know how you live and experience eternity? One day at a time! In fact, eternity is not some distant promise. Peter wrote that eternity starts now (1 Pet 1:3-5). You are living eternal life today! And that’s how you will continue to live it—one day at a time.

God made you for today. He made you to enjoy today, with all its pursuits and true pleasures. No matter what you’re facing today, He has promised that there is a time for everything and that everything will be beautiful in its time. So don’t worry the day away.

This is one day in your eternal life that you will never live again. Make it a great one with God!