What is there time for?--Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. 3:1

Can you hear Pete Seeger's rendition of these verses as sung by the Byrds? This version, while quoting the basic emphasis of Ecclesiastes 3, ends with a call for peaceful living (while not mentioning war). Really a nice use of scripture with an intentional purpose in mind. And a catchy tune to boot.

However, when Solomon makes his list of things that have a "time" or purpose in this world, he does it within the context of hard work and God's sovereignty.

There is a time for everything, according to Solomon. Then he states in 3:11 "God has made everything beautiful in its time." So, Solomon sees that all experiences in life have a beauty all their own and purpose ordained by God. Now, I understand how laughing, dance, birth, planting, love, and peace fit into this. But their opposites--crying, mourning, uprooting, hate, and war--all seem to be negative actions bent on destruction. How can God bless acts of destruction? Alas, destruction is a part of life where sin and corruption are intertwined in our DNA. Everything we are is affected. Everything we do is affected. But, God can even bless our destruction and corruption. That is true power--taking the negative and making it positive.

But this is the irony--or the depth of wisdom--that Solomon has encountered in his relationship with God. "He has also set eternity in their heart, yet [man cannot comprehend] the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. (3:11b-14 NASB, brackets are my own interpretation)

Thus, Solomon realizes that God has left a hole in the heart of man--a hole that cannot be filled with anything but the Eternal God. For Solomon, it is frustrating that this hole is there because with all his wisdom and insight, he still cannot comprehend fully the ways of God. Thus, the broken and corrupted human has the shape of eternity drawn his or her heart.

With that in mind, I see three things in this passage that bring God pleasure: 1) that we should enjoy our daily labor; 2) that we should enjoy God's gifts to us in creation; and 3) that God should be feared by humanity based on his gifts and our own foolishness (inability to understand him completely).

Now, fear here is a respect born out of relationship and awe. We recognize his power and authority over us, and we respect it. The word "fear" is appropriate because ultimately we cannot control God, and thus we are always one step behind and one idea short of understanding him and following him. To me, this "fear" is the first step to knowing God (Proverbs 1:7) and thus the first step to filling the God-sized hole in our hearts.

Ultimately, Solomon recognizes the sovereignty of God in 3:17, "I said to myself, 'God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,' for a time for every matter and for every deed is there." Ultimately, there is a time for everything because God exercises authority and judgment on all things. Our work and our lives fit into the framework of his divinely ordained time.

Amazingly, his divine power is also designed to fit into our hearts. Of all things, this is more amazing--something I do not truly understand--but willingly accept and am forever grateful for.