There are few certainties in life. Health, wealth, jobs, careers, loved ones can be here today and be abruptly taken from us tomorrow (Prv 23:4-5, 1 Pt 1:24). Solomon rightly observed there are seasons set in our lives for many things, by the sovereign and providential will of God…even our time of birth and death (Ecc 3:2). The only thing that is certain in this life (other than God) is uncertainty.
David wisely asked God to help him to understand the significance of the brevity of life, “O Lord, make me know my end and what the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! (Ps 39:4)” In Psalm 39, David is “reflective” of life as he laments in frustration about the prosperity of the wicked. In doing so, he is reminded of God ultimate justice and begins to examine his own heart. He asks God to help him measure his days. In other words, how should he daily be mindful of the shortness of his own life and how that should revelation motivate him to focus on his own faithfulness towards God.
In the focus text, Solomon goes a step further with this theme. Essentially, he states that no matter the strength or weakness of man’s talents; no matter the abundance or lacking of our earthly provisions, God shows no partiality in the timing and certainty of our earthly end, thus, “…time and chance happen to them all.” (cf. Mt 5:45)
In light of Psalm 39, we should reflect in prayer on this truth: Our primary focus in life is not about how long and well we live, but rather how faithful we live toward God in Christ with the time granted to us. We have one life given by God, that is all (Heb 9:27). Here are few specific reflective questions we should pray over:
- How are we using our life to be faithful to the mission of Christ?
- If we have material wealth, how are we using it to help those who lack and for the furtherance of the Gospel mission? (Lk 12:13-21, 1 Tim 6:17-19, Jam 5:1-6)
- If we have health, how are we using our human strength to labor in bearing the burdens of the weak? (Rom 15:1-3)
- If we have power and influence, how are we using our position to promote and administrate justice for the innocent, the poor, the widow, and the marginalized of society? (Isa 10:1-2, Jer 22:3, Ps 106:3)
In the final analysis, you and I will not be judged for skills, talents and resources we do not possess. Rather, what are we doing with what God has placed in our hands to be his agents of redemption in the lives of men? Remember, no man knows the hour of his end. Therefore, we should pray to God to lead and help is to use the time he has given us faithful Spirit-led living unto him, not ourselves.
“Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (12) For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them (Ecc 9:11-12)”
Be blessed,
Dr. Price
www.springoflivingwaters.com