The Grands Letter (Eccl/GLJ)

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven–

2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.

8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?

10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.”

When I was a boy, my playtime was often monitored by the clock. My cousins had a pony and a host of the most interesting things with which to play. My aunt was so nice, too. I will always remember her sweet smile. The only thing she ever did that I did not appreciate was to announce that my time was “up.” It was time to leave my cousins and those interesting things with which we had to play – and go home!

There is still “an appointed time for everything.” Furthermore, everything is that “which God has given” us all – tasks that match the time and circumstances He has aligned for our lives. Those “I-don’t-have-time” cries are simply not true. We always have adequate time; the LORD has seen to that. Our problem lies in the fact that we don’t recognize and utilize time to its best advantage.

Just pause for a moment and assess your usage of today’s time. What is on your agenda? What absolutely must be completed today? Now, pause for a moment and ask the LORD to lead and help you to accomplish your agenda. Oh, but I just had a phone call from a friend! I must hurry to help her! She’s in a terrible situation! Do you not think the LORD knew that? He knew your friend’s situation long before even she knew it. No, He didn’t tell you; but it was always there in that agenda He had for you today. And by the end of the day (if not before) you will say, “He has made everything appropriate in its time.”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

— Corrie ten Boom