"It's Just a Matter of Time"
There are two interesting and conflicting concepts that I'd like to bring together on Sunday. One concept is written by Paul in his letter to Romans. He writes, "Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand."
Paul changed his mind. Paul is reminding us of the brevity of time and how we will want to work to make every minute count.
The opposite message if from Ecclesiastes. We are told by the preacher (that's what the word ecclesiastes means) that there is a time for every matter under heaven. There is a time to live and a time to die; there is a time to laugh and a time to cry; there is a time to plant and a time to plant up what is planted; etc. The message is clear; let time come to you and don't rush it. We are told to allow time to unfold.
We find a contrasting/conflicting opinion here. What are we to do? How do we live in this tension? Do we count our days and make our days count or do we allow things to unfold and be patient with ourselves? How do we live in that tension.
My sermon will point out that and will work through what we do with it because, I think, one of the secrets to happiness is working with that and finding meaning because of it.
Which is it for you.
1. Life is short live the moment?
2. Life has to unfold be patient with it?
How do you balance this?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have people read your response click on the box below.
Charles Schuster
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1 comment:
I guess I don't see the disparity between Paul's comments and the preachers. In both passages we're reminded that the future is not ours to define or create. Likewise, our past is a memory that we cannot change.
Paul says "Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another has fulfilled the law". The preacher says "I know that there is no good in them (labours) but for a person to rejoice, and to do good in life"
We inherently live in the moment. While our past may teach us, and while our future may provide goals for our actions, the moment is the only thing we can really impact.
Who on September 10th 2001 knew how the world would change by mid-day September 11th?
To live in the moment is to remove the illusion that we have control of our future. To live in the moment in a manner better than we have done in the past is to have learned from our mistakes. To live in the moment trying to demonstrate God's love to others might just brigthen the future a bit.
For we do so not to ensure our place in eternity, but because deep down, that is what we were created to do. And by doing so, then tomorrow we will not look back at today as the yesterday we regret.
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