Discerning the “Time”

The poetry of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us that life is full of ever-changing, but specific “times and seasons.” Take, for example, verses 6 and 7:

“ There is a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak….”

Discerning the “time” for the moment is key. We often confuse, for instance, the “time to search” with the “time to give up.” We search for happiness when reasons to be happy are all around us, while we know we should give up our bad habits, yet we cling to them.

Consider, too, “the time to keep and the time to throw away.” Someone hurts us, so we “keep” the pain and let it rule our lives completely, even nursing the hurt sometimes for decades; yet simultaneously, we often “throw away” the love God lavishes upon us all our days.

We rush in to “speak” when silence would be so much more powerful, yet when an injustice demands that we raise our voice, we stand in “silence,” heads turned away.

Our inability to discern the “times” is part of our sinful nature as individuals, but it’s also a sin of for the church of which we are each a part. Our world cries out for God’s wonder-giving, redemptive salvation—the very “time” in which we live. Many of our churches, however, cannot respond to the world’s cries because they lack purpose, passion and power or are saddled with inner conflict.

I am so happy to be serving a congregation that is investing so much time and energy into correctly discerning the “time” for its ministry and mission. Great things are coming together in our work together. I pray the same is true for you in your church, as the needs are great, and the “time” is right for our shared action.

 

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