3 Qualities You Need To Gain Advantage Of Times And Seasons

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We live in a time and age where discernment is sorely needed and this cuts across all works of life; religion, education, business, finance, administration etc. among the mighty men of David were those of the tribe of Issachar whose special gift was their understanding of times and their ability to apply correctly the wisdom gained from it.

“Bee-nah” is the Hebrew word for understanding and it has the same root word with discernment, wisdom, perception and knowledge. Understanding is a gift of prophetic insight and to gain it, you need to be diligent, resourceful and versatile in whatever things you engaged in. Your view, opinion, and perception to life are determined by the level of understanding you have gained and this will in turn influence your approach to life issues.

These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were kinsmen of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin): men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do-200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command. 1Chro.12:1-2a, 32 (NIV)

David as an anointed king understood this particular season of his life (when Saul wanted to haunt him down) to be a delicate period. He had to engage in some battles which he could not face alone. Therefore, he chose his armies carefully. There are qualities, credentials or criteria needed in those who would be admitted to be among the troop of his armies:

1.      Expertise (vs2): The archers were experts in their chosen career. They gave themselves to adequate training, gain mastery in their fields and became professionals.  How often do you give yourself to training so as to gain needed knowledge? Apprenticeship is no longer popular, as only few individuals are ready to pay the price of commitment, endurance, time and discipline to training. Training has nothing to do with age, class or status and it is not a waste of time and resources.

 

2.      Skillfulness: Their mastery in the usage of weapons of war placed them at better advantage over others. They could skillfully shoot arrows with both hands and sling stones to a far distance without missing the target. Oh! What an advantage. To gain advantage in times and seasons, opportunities must always meet your preparedness. Dynamism is the key to gain mastery. Rehearse all the time, seek counsel, attend seminars and participate in webinars related to your career, upgrade your knowledge, don’t be complacent and strive for excellence.

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3.      Proactiveness (vs.32): Proactiveness is acting in advance to initiate and deal with unexpected change or difficulty. The children of Issachar were proactive and not reactive. They see far ahead of time. They always evaluate their decisions. They have good structures upon which their operations are based and carried out. They understood the signs of times and know the right course of action to take.

Many people are caught up with problems and difficulty most of the times because they lack foresight, they don’t recognize signals and warnings and they don’t know which course of action to take in the right order.

Beloved, don’t be a mediocre. Shape and sharpen your knowledge (wit) in your chosen career. Upgrade yourself so as to gain mastery. Be dynamic as you become an expert. Above all, gift of discernment comes from the Holy Spirit (1Corr. 12:10). Build your spiritual immune system by diligent study and meditation in the WORD. Immune your gift against attack and let your gift be managed and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

 

©Ayodeji Oyedokun. 27th July, 2020.

He's a Pastor, Writer, Christian Children Educator, and an IT Enthusiast. He is married and lives in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.