Lessons from the Seasons of Life

The sermon begins with distinguishing wisdom from knowledge. Wisdom is the skillful application of knowledge and virtue in a manner befitting the time and circumstance to bring good results to life. A person with wisdom must possess three elements: first, understanding or knowledge; second, prudence and sound judgment; third, discernment and discretion. The path of wisdom is a long, continuous process that cannot be achieved in one day or a short time, but requires patience and focus over time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 describes the seasons of life: a time to be born 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 embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to search and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to mend; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace. Most people desire to live in favorable seasons such as life, healing, building, laughter, embrace, finding, speaking, loving, and peace. However, no one can live in only one season, because time and the seasons lie in God's hands, not in human control. God ordains these seasons to remind humanity that nothing is eternal under heaven. Only when we accept this do we learn humility, compassion, gentleness, and kindness.

The sermon presents two great tests that every believer will experience: prosperity and adversity. According to Proverbs 30:7-9, the author asks God not to give him either abundance or poverty, but only his daily bread, fearing that in wealth he might forget God, and in poverty might steal and dishonor God's name. Prosperity and adversity are two tests by which God reveals the human heart: whether people remember God or forget Him, trust or complain. The change in character and spirituality during prosperity or adversity may not happen in one day but gradually and subtly, difficult to perceive, like the parable of the frog in gradually heating water. Most frightening is when God allows people to follow their own desires, as Paul writes in Romans 1:24-25 about God's abandonment of those who reject Him.

The sermon concludes with Paul's teaching in Philippians 4:11-13 about learning to be content in all circumstances. Virtue of heart does not come naturally but must be practiced. In prosperity, we practice humility, kindness, generosity, and greater service to God. In hardship and loss, we practice trust in God, seek peace, patience, and endurance without blaming God. To overcome life's seasons and the two great tests, we must follow the example of Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.