Well, we’re wrapping up our study of Ecclesiastes in our Sunday morning class and it’s been a great study as far as I’m concerned. I should say a “great sermon” presented by a great “Preacher,” Solomon, who was uniquely qualified to bring it.

First off, he was blessed by God with wisdom (1Kgs. 3:11-14 & 4:29-34) and also was the greatest king over the greatest nation on earth at the time (1Kgs. 4:21). As such, he had every advantage available to him to experience life on earth. He would not have been shorted in any capacity.

When you consider all that he had going for him, who better to teach us what is important about the “time” we spend here on earth. That, after all his experience, knowledge and wisdom, he boiled it down to the nitty-gritty, so to speak. To the most important. In Eccl. 12:13 he says: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

And then he tells us why this conclusion was reached. Because (paraphrasing verse 14) we will be judged by all that we do during our earthly life so, regardless of whether “good or evil,” the best thing we can do is “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Because the eternal location of our souls (12:7) is in His hand.

Well, I provided that little synopsis of Solomon’s sermon in order to talk a bit about the usage of our earthly “time.” I was having coffee the other day with a fellow retiree and he mentioned that it seemed like the older we get, the faster the time seems to pass. Of course, it doesn’t change its rate of passage, but it sure seems that way, doesn’t it?

I think that it’s because, as we advance into the latter portion of our lives, we’re more aware of just how fleeting it is. Like Job of old put it, it’s going by “swifter than a weaver’s shuttle” (Job 7:6). In today’s vernacular we’d probably say “faster than a speeding bullet.” My friend’s, and Job’s, comment caused me to recall an amusing little story that I feel is applicable to my thoughts today about “time.”

The story goes: “A snail crossing the road was run over by a turtle. Regaining consciousness in the emergency room, he was asked what caused the accident. “I really can’t remember,” the snail answered, “You see, it all happened so fast.”

Like my friend remarked about “time” seemingly going by at a faster rate, it all depends upon your perspective, doesn’t it? We look around and say, “Where did it all go? It wasn’t very long ago that I was serving in the military, getting married and having kids. Now those kids have kids.” We’re like the snail – “it all happened so fast.”

The point of my thoughts here today is to mirror the gist of Solomon’s sermon, the book of Ecclesiastes. I’ll start by saying that this earthly life is the only place where “time” matters to us.

And my first recommendation regarding it is to take stock of it and realize what’s really important. Realize that we don’t have “all the time in the world” to accomplish everything. So, we need to prioritize what “time” we have and I think our age causes us to realize just how valuable it is, plus how fleeting.

“Taking stock” of our time is another way of saying what Paul said in Eph. 5:16 where he said that we need to “redeem the time because the days are evil.” One of the definitions of the Greek word translated as “evil” is “grievous” and that certainly fits with the context of Paul’s words there.

And, speaking of the context, let’s take a quick look at that context and see if it doesn’t coincide with Solomon’s message about the importance of our time usage. Verse 16 gets quoted often in sermons and lessons, but really, verses 15 through 17 should be cited too. Let’s read them together.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Paul pretty much repeats his admonition on “time” usage in his letter to the Colossians (4:5) where he says that we should “walk wisely” as we “redeem (use) our time.”

In his sermon, Solomon listed a lot of activities and things that man can spend their “time” on, IE: work, education, gain of possessions and etc. That all of these things are part and parcel of earthly life. But, he concluded that, as far as an eternal benefit is concerned, all of those things are – “vanity.” With the meaning of “vanity” being “temporary or worthless.”

Solomon says, “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Paul says, “walk wisely …. understanding what the will of the Father is.”

As we arrive at the latter portion of our earthly lives, I think that we have a better grasp on the importance of how our time is to be used. The things we thought we’re so important in our younger years, suddenly don’t seem to be such now. What does have import on our time is how we use it for God, thus determining our soul’s eternal home.

Ron Covey