The Life Cycle

“Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” (Job14:1)

When Job’s three friends came to visit him as he was struggling with all his pain and losses, the best thing they did was to sit and be quiet for a week. When they did start speaking they accused Job of sinful activity and that God was punishing the patriarch for his sins.

Our text is a portion of his response to them. Life is brief and that brevity is filled with all sorts of problems. No one is exempt from troubles, trials and tribulations.

We have jonquils in our yard. Even during the coldest part our winter they had little yellow blooms that seemed to be saying, “Spring is coming.” So it is with man. A baby is born, destined to live and bring forth blooms and then after a few brief years, leave this earth, making room for the next generation. We bloom just for a season then our beauty fades away and we are gone. Job is saying that troubles and trials are just part of the life cycle of mankind.