Ecclesiastes 3 A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, Verse 8: When is the time for hating? We shouldnt hate evil people, but we and a season for every activity under the heavens: should hate what they do. We should also hate it when people are mistreated, 2 a time to be born and a time to die, when children are starving, and when God is being dishonored. In addition, we must hate sin in ourselvesthis is Gods attitude (see Psalm 5:5). a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, Verse 9-13: Your ability to find satisfaction in your work depends a time to tear down and a time to build, to a large extent upon your attitude. You will become dissatisfied 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, if you lose the sense of purpose God intended for your work. We can enjoy our work if we (1) remember that God has given us a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 work to do (3:10), and (2) realize that the fruit of our labor is a gift a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, from him (3:13). See your work as a way to serve God. a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 Verse 11: God has set eternity in the hearts of men. This a time to search and a time to give up, means that we can never be completely satisfied with earthly a time to keep and a time to throw away, pleasures and pursuits. Because we are created in Gods image, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, (1) we have a spiritual thirst, (2) we have eternal value, and (3) a time to be silent and a time to speak, nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy us. God has built in 8 us a restless yearning for the kind of perfect world that can only a time to love and a time to hate, be found in his perfect rule. He has given us a glimpse of the a time for war and a time for peace. perfection of his creation. But it is only a glimpse; we cannot see 9 10 What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the into the future or comprehend everything. So we must trust God 11 burden God has laid on the human race. He has made now and do his work on earth. everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the Verse 12: To be happy and do good while we live are worthy human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from goals for life, but we can pursue them the wrong way. God beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for wants us to enjoy life. When we have the proper view of people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That God, we discover that real pleasure is found in enjoying each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their whatever we have as gifts from God, not in what we accumulate. toilthis is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does Verse 14: What is the purpose of life? Is it that we should revere the all-powerful God. To revere God means to respect will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing and stand in awe of him because of who he is. Purpose in life taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. starts with whom we know, not what we know or how good we 15 Whatever is has already been, are. It is impossible to fulfill your God-given purpose unless and what will be has been before; you revere God and give him first place in your life. and God will call the past to account. Verse 16: Wickedness sits in the place of justice, thus affecting the legal 16 And I saw something else under the sun: system. Salomon asked how Gods plan can be perfect when so much In the place of judgmentwickedness was there, injustice and oppression exist in the world (4:1). He concluded that God does not ignore injustice, but will bring it to an end at his appointed time in the place of justicewickedness was there. 17 (12:13,14). I said to myself, Verse 16ff: Salomon reflects on several apparent contradictions in God will bring into judgment Gods control of the world: (1) there is wickedness where there should be justice (3:16,17); (2) people created in Gods image die just both the righteous and the wicked, like the animals (3:18-21); (3) no one comforts the oppressed (4:1-3); for there will be a time for every activity, (4) many people are motivated by envy (4:4-6); (5) people are lonely a time to judge every deed. (4:7-12); (6) recognition for accomplishments is temporary (4:13-16). 18 I also said to myself, As for humans, God tests them It is easy to use such contradictions as excuses not to believe in God. so that they may see that they are like the But Salomon used them to show how we can honestly look at lifes problems and still keep our faith. This life is not all there is, yet even animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, in this life we should not pass judgment on God because we dont know everything. Gods plan is for us to live forever with him. So so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans live with eternal values in view, realizing that all contradictions will have no advantage over animals. Everything is one day be cleared up by the Creator himself (12:14). meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from Verse 19-22: Our bodies cant live forever in their present state. In that dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human sense, humans and animals are alike. But Salomon acknowledged that spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes God has given people the hope of eternity, and that we will undergo judgment in the next life (3:17; 12:7,14)making us different from down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than animals. Because we have eternity set in our hearts, we have a unique in Gods overall plan. Yet we cannot to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can purposelives by our own effortsonly throughdiscover Gods purpose for our building a relationship bring them to see what will happen after them? with him and seeking his guidance. Are you now living as God wants?
Do you see life as a gift from him?
Verse 1-8: Timing is important. All the experience listed in these verses are appropriate at certain times. The secret to peace with God is to discover, accept, and appreciate Gods perfect timing. The danger is to doubt or resent Gods timing. This can lead to despair, rebellion, or moving ahead without his advice.
