{"id":29579,"date":"2021-01-21T03:30:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T11:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29579"},"modified":"2021-01-18T18:20:51","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T02:20:51","slug":"january-21-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/01\/21\/january-21-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"January 21, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cHe who observes the wind will not sow and he who regards the clouds will not reap\u2026. In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6<\/p>\n

No Perfect Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n

My family has always consulted the Farmer\u2019s Almanac for weather predictions, planting times, seasons, moons, tides, and so forth. It\u2019s not because we were farmers\u2014the most we grew were a few summer vegetables, flowers along the yard borders, and a couple of sturdy, tree house-worthy grapefruit trees.<\/p>\n

The most farm-like animal I ever owned was a goat, and I raised it in my city backyard (until it got into our tiny greenhouse and ate my mom\u2019s prized orchids). But a person could dream of bigger things! The almanac says there is one perfect time to sow and to reap. If you do things at a certain time, it will all turn out okay. I remember feeling life wouldn\u2019t turn out okay if I didn\u2019t marry, or start a family, or have a career settled or my academic education completed, all by a certain age. Indeed, one could be confused about this because earlier in the book of Ecclesiastes, we are told that there is a season and a time for everything under heaven. (Note\u2014it says \u201ca\u201d time, not \u201cthe perfect\u201d or \u201cthe only\u201d time.)<\/p>\n

Those who plant can\u2019t wait for the wind and clouds to be perfect, as if they could predict outcomes. Those who share the gospel can\u2019t wait for perfect conditions\u2014if they do, they will never sow the Word of God. This is because we don\u2019t KNOW the perfect time. We don\u2019t know what God will do. We can\u2019t predict how or when or for whom He will cause His Word to prosper, to come alive.<\/p>\n

When I read today\u2019s verses, my mind went to practicing all manner of spiritual gifts. Specifically, if we are afraid \u201cthe time isn\u2019t right,\u201d or we are too young, or too inexperienced, or lacking in knowledge about the gifts, then we limit what God is doing. We are like Moses: \u201cNot me! Use anyone but me!\u201d<\/p>\n

This verse says to \u201csow in the morning.\u201d Although there are other interpretations, it can be applied to \u201cuse your gifts\u201d or \u201cinvest your time, gifts, talents\u2014whatever you have\u201d\u2014when you are young. The end of the verse tells us why: \u201cFor you do not know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t actually know how things will turn out for us. We can\u2019t predict or guarantee our future. We can\u2019t choose what will prosper. Invest your time in others. Practice doing all God has given you to do. Don\u2019t wait for the lightning bolt. Go with what God has inspired you to do, whether little or big, easy or hard. He is able to open and close doors as needed; He is able\u00a0<\/em>to enable\u00a0<\/em>you.<\/p>\n

Mighty God, we pray for willing hearts that serve and give and share and practice as soon as You inspire us to do so. May we not make excuses, but go forward in faith. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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