"God has a plan for your life. You probably know that. But he also has a timetable for your life. Here's the thing: God never explains his timetable. And sometimes that can be really difficult to accept." - Rick Warren |
We all struggle with this. Things never happen fast enough. You have to put in the hard work to see the results of your labor, and growth takes time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) reminds us: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: If you search the NIV for "a time," you will find 49 verses, including this wording. But, you'll find in Ecclesiastes it's "a time" to do something 32 times in just 10 verses! |
These "times" mentioned in Ecclesiastes aren't all pleasant, but some must be done or are unavoidable. Turning to the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, Pastor MacArthur says, "Not only does God fix the standard and withhold or dispense satisfaction (2:26), but He also appoints "seasons" and "times." Earthly pursuits are good in their proper place and time, but unprofitable when pursued as the chief goal." If this brings up more questions than it answers, let's study The NIV Quest Study Bible, with Bible Gateway Plus. It will answer the following questions (and more!): - Does this describe a balanced life? (3:1)
- What kind of burden has God put on us? (3:10)
- How does God set eternity in the human heart? (3:11)
- How does God compel us to fear him? (3:14)
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When you dig in, you'll find that the answer to the first question above is that "Though it appears that the Teacher was outlining a formula for a balanced life here, it's much more likely that he was telling what life is—not what it should be. These verses describe life more than they offer advice for life." |
Bible study may be one of the best "earthly pursuits" for you to devote time toward. Let Bible Gateway Plus guide you as you accept God's timeline, strengthen your relationship with Him, and deepen your Bible study habits. |
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