The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, October 26, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Wednesday, October 26,2022
TOPIC: GOD CONTROLS TIMES AND SEASONS
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 3:1-23
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, October 26, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" opens this passage. Time, here connotes seasons, dispensations, regimes or tenures. King Solomon opines that we live in a world of changes, attended by several events vastly different from one another with man continually passing between them on a daily basis (w. 2-9). It also holds that every change concerning us, with the time and season of it, is unalterably fixed and determined by the Controller (God), and we must take things as they come, for it is not in our power to change what is appointed for us (v. 11). No human has the ability to stop or elongate time or even determine seasons, except God Almighty.
The living only puts up a schedule, taps into the season's window and is at the mercies of the Time-Controller on a daily basis (James 4:13-15). The passage also holds that the two mutually contrary events of life are in revolution and are inevitable (birth time and death time; weeping time and joyous time, etc.); each takes their turn to come into play. Thus, no situation or condition lasts forever.
Therefore, as we cross through various seasons of pleasures and pains, both as individuals and families, let us anchor our faith on God, who makes all things beautiful in its time. The seasons of distress shall surely come and pass; joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). On the other hand, we must; understand that our time is ticking, thus, we should not be . opportunity-wasters. Rather than using our time to create troubles, let us seek God instead; make peace with our neighbours and prepare our earthly exit, for we do not know when our time will be up!
Thought: This short lifetime set by the Controller, is the only time to prepare for eternal life hereafter.