Christ Jesus is The Difference

Today brings a brand new year; 2011. I began a one year reading program through the Bible. I thought it was fitting that the program, provided by the ESV Study Bible, would begin with Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Here is the passage.

“For everything there is a season, and  a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (ESV)

The writer of Ecclesiastes understood the concept that God is in control. Allow for a little clarification here. To say “God is in control” is not to say that we should just throw our hands up and say, “God controls it so I don’t need to do anything about anything.” It is quite the opposite.

This passage is a list of action items. The writer expresses there is a time and place for everything and then describes some of those things we do to effect those matters “under heaven”. We live, we die. We work, we rest. We fight, we make peace. We remove the old, we create the new. We feel sadness, we feel happiness. These are all actions that we take in response to life’s circumstances.

As the year 2011 begins, let us take a hard look at this list as instruction for how we should react to those joyous and trying times that we will experience this year. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” in other words God knows what will happen in your life this year, so rely on Him to help you know how to respond. Be prepared by knowing that God will prepare you if you will simply ask.

Take a look at this passage today and read a little further. See how “toil” is a gift from God. Then go back and read this wonderful list of action items again. Be resolved to react in 2011 with God in mind first no matter the circumstance.