Ephesians 5:15-16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (NLT)
Understanding the season we are in will make us wise, thoughtful and effective. If we pluck a fruit before it is ripe, we will neither cherish it nor nourish from it. Understanding the time, seasons and stages of life is crucial to our decision making. We don’t have to go seeking a Seer or a Prophet to understand our times and seasons. All we have to do is to diligently walk according to His Word. If we run ahead of God’s time, we will become greedy, frustrated and avaricious but if we lag behind we will miss the harvest of the season.
Seasons operate under the law of sowing and reaping; investing and harvesting. Galatians 6:7b For whatever one sows, that will he also reap. There are some investments that are “one time investments” but there are other “long term investments” that pay off throughout our life and even into eternity. Sowing wheat, paddy and barley are one time investment; once harvested, we must sow again. Yet, nurturing an apple, olive or fig tree would keep yielding harvest for years to come. A good deed, a generous gift or a kind word are one time investments but integrous, selfless and faithful lifestyle is a long term investment with eternal rewards. Godly wisdom is understanding the seasons, timely sowing and sensible living.
Three virtues to understanding the seasons:
1. Investment: “Present” is a combination of “reaping” the reward of the past and “sowing” into the future. Our understanding of seasons or “sowing and reaping” in the natural is no different to the spiritual. Proverbs 22:8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity. Every season will have a reward of our investments. Many times we wonder why wickedness is not repaid immediately. Iniquity and injustice will grow bitter roots and produce poisonous fruits in future. Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy. Invest into the future thoughtfully.
2. Industrious: Many spend their energy and effort in the wrong place and with the wrong people. Ephesians: 5:17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. It is not how much we do but why and what we do. Devil will keep us busy and distracted in fruitless endeavours. We must toil, plough and plant righteousness, Godliness and uprightness to reap plenteous and abundant rewards. Thoughtful and industrious efforts in the present are wise investments for a fruitful future.
3. Income: We must analyse the quality of our rewards and returns to evaluate the authenticity of our investments and make qualitative decisions and changes for a better future. Proverbs 11:18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. If our “present” has commotions, confusion and curses, then the quality of investment in the past was inferior. To improve the quality and quantity of returns in future, we must do a quality check of our habits, thoughts, behaviour patterns and make qualitative changes to the present.
To reap the benefit of every season of life, we must be thoughtful and mindful of God’s path of righteousness and walk in His blueprint.
I Chronicles 12:32a From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do..
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to walk in your plan and your path. Let me never run ahead of you or lag behind you. Teach me to walk in the pace of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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