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The Process of Progress

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 csb) There is an occasion for everything,and a time for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; 3 a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; 5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; 6 a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; 8 a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his struggles? 10 I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied. 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.

(John 15:1-2 csb) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.

1. Pruning may be painful but it is necessary for multiplied production.

(Galatians 6:9 csb) Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.

2. We can’t rush or disregard the right time for reaping.

3. Fruit doesn’t produce more fruit; it produces more trees.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 csb) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

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