Whether good or bad things happen, do we trust God to ultimately bless those who love Him? Let’s look at Ecclesiastes 3.
Do we wait patiently until the right time, season or occasion for things?
There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth 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 throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; 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. (Ecc 3:1-8 HCSB)
Does a worker gain worthwhile pleasure from his work when he does good? How does that relate to our eternity?
What benefit does the worker gain from what he undertakes? I have observed the burdens placed by God on human beings in order to perfect them. He made everything appropriate in its time. He also placed eternity within them—yet, no person can fully comprehend what God is doing from beginning to end. I have concluded that the only worthwhile thing for them is to take pleasure in doing good in life; moreover, every person should eat, drink, and enjoy the benefits of everything that he undertakes, since it is a gift from God. I have concluded that everything that God undertakes will last for eternity—nothing can be added to it nor taken away from it—and that God acts this way so that people will fear him. That which was, now is; and that which will be, already is; and God examines what has already taken place. (Ecc 3:9-15 ISV)
Is wickedness too often found where we hope to find justice and righteousness? Will God eventually judge things?
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. (Ecc 3:16-17 KJV)
Is God testing us all right now? Will we all die, and what happens after that, is it in God’s hands?
I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.” For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same fate for each of them. As one dies so dies the other, and they all have the same breath. So there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. All go to the same place. All came from the dust, and all return to the dust. Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be glad in his works, for that is his portion. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him? (Ecc 3:18-22 LSB)
No matter what happens in this life, do we trust that God has loving control over our eternity?
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28 NASB)
Whether good or bad things happen, do we trust God to ultimately bless those who love Him? You decide!
