Faith in Christ Sample

WAITING FOR GOD'S TIME

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

"To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven - He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:1,11a)

Every day and every moment, we must continuously strive to seize every opportunity that God brings into our lives so that we can act appropriately. The Lord said in 1 Chronicles 12:32, "Of the sons of Issachar who had an understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command."

Knowing the time determines how we react to any conditions around us. Therefore, it is essential to know the right time to do anything.

We cannot separate life from the seasons of life. These seasons of life shape us the most. Many people fail to react correctly to the changing seasons of their lives. It is like growing rice in the fields. A farmer has to work hard with full vigilance and calculation for almost half a year to harvest a superior type of rice.  (That is the type of rice with grains on each grain, has the resistance to diseases and pests, that the farmer can harvest three times yearly). 

In addition, farmers must also be able to manage their time well to carry out the following stages of works: tilling the soil, maintaining irrigation, selecting seeds, making nurseries, sowing seeds, planting, fertilizing, eradicating pests, keeping other animal disturbances at bay, and finally reaping the harvest. Farmers must work thoughtfully so that their crops do not fail.

The same thing is applicable in our lives as believers. We must learn to know the times and seasons of God to understand what we face and how we should behave and act in the right way towards everything we may experience. 

Reflection:

1. How do you react when problems come your way? Did you consider your reaction?

2. Has your life been like a farmer planting rice who knows when to work the soil, maintain irrigation, select seeds, make nurseries, sow seeds, plant, fertilize, weed, eradicate pests and disturbances from other animals, and reap the harvest?

Application:

If you often make mistakes because you don't know God's timing – come closer to Him and ask Him for wisdom about it.