The Perfect Time

Ecclesiastes 11:4 – Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. (NIV)

During our working years, my husband and I were weekend gardeners. Saturday was the only day we had the opportunity to plant our seeds. Many of our friends planted by the signs in the almanac — convinced that Irish potatoes and other vegetables grew better and produced more abundantly if planted on days when the moon was in a certain phase. Not having an option to choose our day of planting, we planted on any Saturday in early spring that afforded the opportunity. Some years we had a good garden; other times it was not really good — but our friends had bad years too. Our haphazard selection of planting dates seemed to work for us.

The same method seems to have worked in our church life. We've invited some people to our church who have responded and become faithful members. Others have turned us down outright or else attended a few times and dropped out. We have no way of knowing the inner workings of a person's heart as to whether they are ready to accept Christ or not. We just have to take the opportunity when it comes to invite them and take a chance on the outcome.

In Acts 8:26-34, the eunuch was reading the Scriptures and longing for an interpreter when Phillip came along. The eunuch was ready to accept Christ. Not all opportunities are going to be as fruitful. If we wait for the perfect timing, the unclouded day or the day when the wind is blowing in the right direction, we may never find it. We must act when the opportunity arises.

Prayer: Lord, we may not have perfect timing in our witnessing for You, but we know You can take our efforts and turn them into a fruitful harvest. Amen.

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