1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3a time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
4a time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance;
5a time to cast away stones,
and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;
6a time to seek,
and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time to cast away;
7a time to tear,
and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
8a time to love,
and a time to hate;
a time for war,
and a time for peace.
9What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? 10I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.
Many people have found comfort in these verses over the years. They often remind us that life is filled with seasons of every sort and they bring just about every sort of emotion with them. It is important for us to remember in the bad times that there have been good seasons and that they will come again some day. And we must also remember that, even in the enjoyable seasons of life, something different might be just around the corner. In every season we face, we should turn to God and allow him to teach us how to rely on him more and more.
This is an important section because the author now refers to activities “under heaven” instead of simply “under the sun” as he did elsewhere in Ecclesiastes. So much meaning is found when we keep our eyes turned toward God in heaven. So much meaninglessness is found when we focus only on things under the sun that are merely what the world has to offer. Where do you find yourself focusing most of the time? If you are fulfilled in what you do, it is a strong indication that you are focusing on activities under heaven. Keep it up! If you feel frustration or emptiness in life, a shift of focus might be a timely change for you.
Verse 10 points to the fact that the very life God has blessed us with can often feel like a burden. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. Can you trust God to help you find beauty in every season, even when it might be painful or difficult? God is not causing those trying seasons in your life, but he sure is trying to draw you close in the midst of them!