Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is life in real-time.
While ironing my clothes and reflecting on the difficult events of yesterday I had this thought. “Life is real and spirituality is ideal, meaning that it is something that we aspire to achieve. It is a set of principles, precepts and statutes that we attempt to practice in real time.” I reflected on the real-time events of yesterday. There was malicious and unfair charge on the churches credit card, a trip to the emergency room and squabbles among friends, all done in real time.
The focus of Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 is on man’s responses to the activities brought before him in real time. And who orchestrates the activities that are brought before man? God does. And He already said, in Verse 1 of Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a purpose for it.
Why they are brought before us and when they are brought before us, I do not always understand. Some people try to understand everything. I don’t. God does not require us to understand everything, but he does desire responses that would please Him.
J. Vernon McGee says that even though Solomon’s wisdom represents the highest of human wisdom it is still God directed. Solomon was right. There is a time for things, and it is real time. The question is what are we going to do in those real time situations? What are we going to do when our credit cards are unfairly charged? What are we going to do in real time when we end up in the emergency room? Will we attempt to bring the ideals, principles and practices into play as we face the difficulties of life?
You can do it, you know. It was in real time when Solomon’s father King David, responded to a giant difficulty as he faced Goliath with courage. He told Goliath that you come with sword and spear but I come in the name of the Lord. That is the key. We cannot live life successfully in a way that pleases God without Him.
I was also thinking inversely that if there is a time to, then that means that there is a time not to.
Life Step Ministries 
Anonymous Oct 25, 2017
Great TfTD! Thank you. I love the last line, “time not to” I’ll definitely keep that in mind.
Reply,
Thanks and God bless.
Anonymous Oct 25, 2017
Ps. I pray and hope that the events of yesterday have had a turn for the better.
Reply October 25, 2017
Well, they had a turn and we are still turning. Thanks for your well-wishes.
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