What Time Is It?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:  A right time for birth and another for death,  A right time to plant and another to reap,  A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct, A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer, A right time to make love and another to abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part, A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go, A right time to rip out and another to mend, A right time to shut up and another to speak up, A right time to love and another to hate, A right time to wage war and another to make peace. (MSS)

As I read the scripture today I thought about the J. G. Wentworth commercial, “It’s my money and I want it NOW”.  Many of us in our quest for the acquisitions of things want it NOW. Most of us want God to bless us right NOW.  Wait is a four letter word for us. But there is an opportune time for everything. The question is What Time Is It?

            In America we have been raised in a culture of instant gratification. In this cultural climate, we flip a switch and we have light, we go through drive through for FAST FOOD. We have instant rice, oats, coffee, and tea. The instant mentality causes waiting and timing to be problematic for us. We are used to voila!!, and it’s there. An opportune time is almost foreign to our thinking.
            As I remember finishing school and getting my first job, I remember wanting to live a certain lifestyle of affluence. I remember the sense of disappointment as I went to look for the type and style of furniture I wanted, but it was well out of my pay range. But I wanted it NOW. I see that same quality in many today, wanting to live a lifestyle they cannot afford at this time and being frustrated, angry, and depressed because of it. This is not the opportune time. The question is What Time Is It?
            This text today is particularly poignant as I watch and wait with my youngest daughter as she awaits the arrival of her first child. She is so ready for this child to be born. Not just the anticipatory excitement of waiting for this blessed event, like a child waiting for Christmas, but a desire that can, if not mastered cause one to do something unrealistic at its best, and detrimental at its worst. Waiting for the opportune time, particularly when you are in pain and discomfort is difficult, but still, the question is What Time Is It?
            The lack of our ability to wait for God’s timing causes us to meet with many problems that we would not have if we waited on God’s provision. Most, if not all of our debt would be eliminated if we had waited on God. Most, if not all, of the criminal offences that occur would be eliminated if we waited on God.  Most of our failed and relationships are because we failed to wait on God. For EVERYTHING there is a season. What struggles are you facing? What decisions do you need to make? How do you need to proceed? The answer you need is in asking the right question. The question is What Time Is It?

Prayer: Gracious Father, we come to you today acknowledging that we are impatient, and want instant gratification. We ask O God that you would help us make the mental, emotional, and spiritual adjustment to be able to wait on your time. There is an opportune time for Everything. Help us to wait on ours. AMEN!