Out of Season

Even the seasons seem unseasonable at the moment of writing. I have daisies growing in my lawn. Daffodils, in full flower, are to be seen in the roadside verges. We are all left wondering what on earth is happening to our climate. The question persistently goes up, “Is this the effect of global warming?” The repeated answer is that nobody can be quite sure. All we know is, Nature’s rhythms seem disrupted. Things happen out of season.

Recently there has been quite a trend in favour of eating food that is “in season”, as opposed to what has been brought in from distant countries with a different climate and seasons at variance with our own. The “Eat Seasonably” campaign claims that “Eating seasonably means better taste, better value and a better deal for the planet” (www.eatseasonably.co.uk, accessed 11 January 2016).

Our forebears in ancient times had to study the seasons far more closely than we do. It may surprise you to know that in July food stores in the barns were at their lowest point. The crops sown in spring had not yet matured. On the very eve of the August harvest the poor could find themselves starving.

The Bible has memorable things to say about there being a right time for everything. The most famous is a passage from a wise preacher, probably Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV)

But there is at least one thing that the Bible says should be done out of season.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)
The question is: “out of season” - for whom? For some zealous souls this verse may seem to supply a licence to pester. At the drop of a hat they may challenge some unsuspecting stranger with the full diet of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. They may do so in complete ignorance of the issues facing the person at that time. On the other hand, if someone is known to be complacent in his or her sin, that one may need a timely jolt.

But isn’t it equally likely that Paul, the writer of the verse, means “Preach the gospel even if it is out of season for you, the preacher”? Someone may long to hear the message of Jesus from you even when you don’t feel like giving it. Are you ready? After all, Christ died for our sins even when He felt He would like to steer clear of suffering.

Often great work is done for Christ because the time is just right. Just as much to be celebrated are the efforts faithful Christians make when they are tired, suffering and jaded. Thank God for them.