A Time for Every Purpose

Background Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3
Lesson Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1–15

Introduction

One of the greatest gifts God has given to man is the gift of time. Our journey through time provides opportunity to learn, to grow, to develop skills, and to build relationships. In time, God offers eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. We choose to utilize or squander the precious moments given to us.

God exercises dominion over earthly events, and His timing is perfect. With Him, nothing is happenstance. May this lesson increase our faith in God’s infinite wisdom as we accept His plan for our lives.

Key Verse

And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The book of Ecclesiastes establishes the frailty of man and God’s complete control. In his quest to understand the meaning of life, Solomon observed the futility of man’s existence without his Creator. Rivers run to the sea, seasons come and go, and one generation follows another. The cycle continues, and man can control it no more than he can grasp hold of the wind.

Solomon disobeyed the command given for kings of Israel. “But he shall not multiply horses to himself . . . Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deut. 17:16–17). Solomon sought fulfillment pursuing pleasure. He accumulated gold and silver and all the trappings of wealth. He married foreign wives. He embraced power and plumbed the depths of wisdom. But his quest ended at the brink of empty cisterns. He found that riches decay and realized that wisdom is forgotten in the grave. Power is soon given to another, and pleasure vanishes like vapor. Though he decried the vanity of life, Solomon knew God governed the time and season for every purpose under heaven.

The Creator graces man with gifts of knowledge, understanding, and creativity. He imparts the desire to inquire and explore. He furnishes capacity to labor. The ability to enjoy the good things of life is divinely bestowed. These gifts are given so man will magnify his Maker.

God allows times of travail. Tragedy, death, pain, sorrow, failure, and loss beset us all. Disaster moves man to recognize a higher power. Dark times produce godly fear and motivate people to seek the Lord.

Practical Truths for Today

God does not exist in the realm of time. One day with Him is like a thousand years, and a thousand like one day. Although God inhabits eternity, He created time and maintains complete control of its existence. The earth turns, and the sun rises and sets at His command. Seasons come and go; young life flourishes, then grows old and passes away, all by God’s design.

Man, however, is controlled by time. We live our lives by minutes, hours, and days. Every day affords us twenty-four hours, and nothing is farther from our grasp than an hour gone. Time must be managed. Choosing priorities in the use of each day is of utmost importance. Whatever controls our time controls our lives. And how we live determines our destiny. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).

God chose us to be His children in 2020. We had no control over the nationality of our parents or where we were born. We did not choose our mental capacity or physical characteristics. Only our response to the circumstances of life lies within our control. This generation holds enormous possibilities to fulfill or abandon God’s purpose for our lives. Never has access to the Bible, travel, and means of communication been greater for the use of spreading the gospel. How will we answer?

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God . . .” Do our hopes and dreams, our plans and goals, and our work and leisure indicate love for God and His kingdom? Placing God’s kingdom first affects the management of our time. It results in cherished moments allotted for prayer, devotion, and worship. It softens our hearts with compassion for the needy and a burden for the lost. It gives direction when to speak encouraging words or offer silent support, when to cheer with a song or sympathize with a helping hand.

Are we too busy to spend a moment holding a frightened child, an hour visiting the lonely, or a day cleaning flooded homes? Kingdom priorities teach us to cast away stones of selfishness and gather precious gems of genuine care. Nurturing the young, counseling the fainthearted, or encouraging the weary will take precedence over catering to our own whims. We must purpose in our hearts to build trust with open communication and break down walls of suspicion.

We often struggle to keep a heavenly vision in an earthly world. One purpose of our existence is to provide for ourselves and our families. There is a time to work, a time to plant, a time to build, and a time to accumulate. A good work ethic coupled with faithful stewardship is necessary to fund our schools and mission outreach. But if material things become the focus of our existence, we have failed God, others, and ourselves.

Loving the world fans our desire for ease and abundance. It requires a disproportionate amount of time spent pursuing financial success. It generates a drive for independence and smothers the spirit of simplicity. God calls us to forsake the kingdom of darkness and shine as beautiful lights in our world today.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). We see little of today and nothing of the future. Our earthly view proves short-sighted. It creates doubt and erodes confidence in our heavenly Father’s care. We question the untimely death of loved ones. Poverty and lack of opportunity seem unfair. The cruel hand of war creates chaos and untold suffering. Truth is trampled, and the foundations of morality are destroyed. However, God remains in control. He is unchanging with no shadow of turning. He can be trusted. His love never fails, and every purpose He designs will be fulfilled in due time. Believing this yields unrivaled security for the Christian.

Although earth life is fleeting, we are part of God’s great plan. In accepting His will, we grasp how He makes everything beautiful in His time. From the ashes of disaster grows the lovely flower of faith. Suffering produces a depth of patience that touches many lives. We see a rebellious prodigal transformed into a loving servant and a faltering youth grow strong in the Lord. Two young Christians can join hands in holy matrimony, knowing God will keep them in His love. Parents see the fruit of their prayers realized in converted children. The dying are able to face death serenely in total confidence that heaven awaits. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer. 29:11).

Questions

1. Time and chance happen to all. Does God have a purpose for every occurrence in life?
2. How do we find direction for the amount of leisure time to allow ourselves?
3. How important is God’s timing when seeking direction in natural and material areas of life?
4. What priorities should we address in Christ’s “kingdom for such a time as this”? (Esther 4:14).
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).