Going Deeper in “Time Well Spent”
Read the following a few times:
Ecc 3:1-13; Ps 90:12; James 4:14-15; Eph 5:15-16; Ecc 11:6
Reflect on the following:
1. There is “a season for everything.” Which season do you feel like you’re in right now—and why?
2. Which pairings in verses 2–8 stand out to you most at this stage of life (planting/harvesting, searching/losing, tearing down/building)? What makes them feel relevant?
3. Why do you think Ecclesiastes holds opposite experiences together instead of choosing one over the other?
4. How does our culture pressure young adults to rush certain seasons or skip others?
5. Verse 11 says God “has planted eternity in the human heart.” What do you think that means for people who feel restless or dissatisfied?
6. Where do you see the tension between wanting life to move faster—and wanting it to slow down?
7. According to verse 11, why can’t we fully understand God’s timing? How does that make you feel—relieved, frustrated, or both?
8. Verse 12 says the best response is to “be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.” Why is enjoyment sometimes hard to accept as a spiritual practice?
9. Verse 13 connects enjoyment with work and provision from God. How might gratitude change the way you view your daily schedule?
10. What would it look like for you to trust God with your timing—especially around unanswered prayers or unfinished goals?
Spiritual Challenges:
1. Name Your Season - This week, write down the season you believe you’re in (planting, waiting, healing, building, letting go).
2. Practice Presence - Choose one ordinary moment each day—mealtime, commute, workout, or conversation—and give it your full attention. No multitasking. No phone. Call it time well spent.
3. Redeem One Hour - Take one hour this week that you would normally waste or rush through and intentionally offer it to God—through rest, service, prayer, or connection.