Time for everything

Time for Everything

Time is perhaps the most precious commodity we have, yet we share our time so sparingly. We are often ‘too busy’ to speak to even our own kids let alone a stranger.

The writer of Ecclesiastes always seemed to me to be a bit of a ‘glass half empty’ type of person. He was full of gloom and doom. Nothing was ever right; he’d seen it all before; nothing would work; we all might as well give up and go home. Yet there is chapter 3, shining like a beacon on a dark night, the most wonderful wisdom imaginable.

“There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
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,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV 1984)

Take time to be quiet--It is the opportunity to seek God. Seek Him quietly, in those peaceful moments. In your quiet time – if you have one – or in any quiet moment during your busy day. God is always ready to fellowship with you.

Take time to be aware--it is the opportunity to help others. Cultivate the habit of taking quick mental notes of things around you. You will see opportunity to sow seeds, to lend a helping hand, or to show a small kindness.

Take time to love and be loved--It is God's greatest gift. Oh the joys of love; of being loved, and receiving love, as well as loving and giving love. There is nothing sloppy or simpering about real love. It is stronger than we can ever imagine. Best of all is Jesus love. Take time to savour it and dwell in it.

Take time to be friendly--It is the road to happiness. A friendly word here and there can make such a difference to somebody’s day. An older, often lonely person; a homeless person; a stranger – we never know the effect  our small friendly gestures have on people we meet. A kind word; a soft word often turns away anger and rejection.

Take time to laugh--It is the music of the soul. Laughter is a great healer. I recall the story of the “terminally ill” man who decided to enjoy his last months as much as possible. He got hold of ever comedy film he could and he laughed so much, his doctor eventually told him, “You are healed!” Bible says to laugh with those who laugh and weep with those who weep but laughter is surely the best medicine of all.

Take time to pray--It is the greatest power on earth. Five minutes of prayer changes things. We have a prayer scheme in which we pray for five people for five minutes five days a week for five weeks. The results have been startling. Just think how much we could achieve with regular persistent prayer.

There is time, and a time, for everything... There really is time and a time for everything we need in our lives and for the needs in the lives of those around us. If only, in our small but busy worlds, we take a very little time for others. The results could be oh so startling.

The Lord is willing to give you time. Are you willing to give Him, and His work, some time too?