Ecclesiastes 3

God created man to work and to enjoy the fruits of his labor. This is our heritage as sons of God. He also made us to be doers of good in His name. In His timing all things are beautiful. We may not understand His purpose, but He does, and that is enough. What does are God expect of us? He expects us to be fair, forgive freely and be humble. He wants us to make the most of the talents that He has given us and to enjoy the life that He has given. Remember, all things come from God, all things, praise Him for His glory!! Oh what a glorious God we serve.

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

2 A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

3 A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break 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 cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

7 A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

8 A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.

9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12 I know that nothing is better
for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God does,

It shall be forever.

17 I said in my heart,

"God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,

For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work."

The NKJV says this:

Some regard the Book of Ecclesiastes as describing life apart from God, but clearly this text describes life that is lived in relationship with God. Rather, he teaches that all events are in the hand of God, who makes everything happen in the time He judges appropriate. God's plan includes both sorrows and joys. There is a period of life in which one wishes to accumulate things for enjoyment and memories; later in life, one needs to work out ways to dispose of what has been accumulated. The answer here is that all of life unfolds the appointment of God. All the toiling of man cannot change the times, circumstances, and control of events that God has reserved to Himself. All of God's creation
is beautiful. The point is that God makes everything that way in its time. From the divine perspective, there is no ugliness in the events of our lives. Thus the Scriptures call people to live in robust faith during times of trial and pain; in the grand scheme of things, God will make everything beautiful. Biblical faith is a call for joy, even when we live in a wicked world and under terrible stress; this is because we find true joy in the living God. . The Preacher warns the wicked judges that God, the final judge, will come, rectify all wrongdoing, and bring true justice. Death is the great leveler of all persons. In that regard, humans are no different than animals. There is a blessing given to humankind in terms of ordinary pleasures. The allotment that God has designated may include material possessions or the pleasures that come from them