Lessons from Life's Seasons and Appointed Times
VBC Albuquerque · Nov 8, 2025
The sermon teaches about wisdom and the appointed seasons of life that everyone must experience. Wisdom differs from knowledge; it is the ability to apply knowledge skillfully and appropriately according to circumstances and timing. The contrasting seasons such as birth-death, sowing-reaping, weeping-laughing, and war-peace all serve God's purpose to refine human character.
The sermon begins by defining wisdom as the skillful and righteous application of knowledge according to circumstances and timing in order to bring about good results in life. Wisdom differs from knowledge in that it is not merely understanding but the ability to solve every problem and reality in life in the most appropriate and excellent way. Knowledge must be analyzed and carefully considered, then weighed for advantages and disadvantages, checking whether it is suitable for the moment, circumstances, and persons involved before deciding to act.
The preacher presents three main aspects to consider: the appointed seasons of life, two great tests, and contentment in all circumstances. The seasons are referenced from Ecclesiastes 3:1, where King Solomon lists 14 contrasting seasons such as birth and death, planting and uprooting, killing and healing, breaking down and building up, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, scattering and gathering stones, embracing and refraining from embracing, seeking and losing, keeping and discarding, tearing and mending, silence and speaking, loving and hating, and war and peace. Although most people want to choose one side of these seasons, no one can live experiencing only one extreme; all must go through both.
The two great tests discussed are prosperity and hardship. Scripture teaches that these are ways God tests the human heart, not for God to know (since God already knows all things) but for the person himself and others to understand their true inner nature. Through the story of Job, the sermon illustrates how prosperity can cause people to forget God, while hardship can test whether faith in God remains firm. Prosperity can lead to pride and self-reliance or to humility and compassion depending on one's basic character. Hardship can also cause people to trust God more or become increasingly bitter and resentful.
The sermon concludes by emphasizing the necessity of learning contentment in all circumstances, whether in abundance or poverty, plenty or want. Based on Philippians 4:11-13, the pastor stresses that character of heart does not come naturally but must be developed through practice. In prosperity, one must practice humility, compassion, and generosity in serving God. In hardship, one must practice trusting God, maintaining peace in God, and patience without blaming God or others. The example of Jesus Christ, who endured the cross for the joy set before him, is the model that believers should follow to overcome the seasons and trials of life.