A TIME for everything...

“Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord…”

These lyrics sang to me this morning from my bedside clock radio. As I slowly peeled my eyes open I listened to the artist’s words as he sang of how he’d tasted all that was fine and yet nothing (he’d experienced) compared to knowing the Lord.

The next stanza was a bit more convicting…“I see all the people wasting all their time, building up their riches for a life that's fine…”  It made me wonder about the things I waste my time pursuing rather than looking to the One who can truly fill me.

My thoughts then turned to Solomon and the book of Ecclesiastes. “Everything is meaningless!” Solomon practically shouts off the first few pages! Yet this is what King Solomon discovered through his many years of searching.

In Chapter 1 he finds that even the pursuit of wisdom is a waste of time! Why? Because both the fool and the wise will come to the same end…death.  In the next few chapters he shares that pleasure (wine, sex and stuff), along with work, power and wealth are also meaningless – like a chasing after the wind.  It’s like he’s challenging us to be mindful of our TIME here on earth – not to waste the days, months, or even the years we’ve been given.

In Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 he shares what he considers more valuable and a better use of Time:

 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
    And the day you die is better than the day you are born.

² Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
    After all, everyone dies—
    so the living should take this to heart.
³ Sorrow is better than laughter,
    for sadness has a refining influence on us.

⁴ A wise person thinks a lot about death,
    while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

All I can say is, WOW!

I absolutely loved his “Advice to the Young” in Chapter 11 and on into Chapter 12:

⁹ Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. ¹⁰ So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” ² Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. ³ Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

⁴ Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

⁵ Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral…  Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. ¹⁴ God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

In closing I wanted to leave you with Solomon’s most famous words regarding Time:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NLT):

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.  A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.  A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.  A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.  A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.  A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.  A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.

Here's a link to the song I was listening to....

Nothing Compares - Live concert with Third Day