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Ecclesiastes 3:6 – A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

 

Thought:  When I thought of the first couplet in this verse, I wondered:  “When is there a time to lose?”  Then, I thought of a pacifier.  There is a time for a child to get a pacifier; there is a time for the child to lose it.  There is a time to get braces.  There is a time to lose braces.  There is also a time to keep and a time to cast away.  There is a time to keep leftovers and a time to cast leftovers out.  There is a time to keep a memory and a time to cast a memory aside.  Truly, Solomon understood life.

 

Exodus 12:35-36

 

Commentary:

 

A.     A time to get, and a time to lose…

1.       A time to get

a.       Some translate the word “get” as “seek.”

b.      Examples:

1)      When a couple gets married, there comes a time to get a house.

2)      There is a time to get a better car.

3)      There is a time to get a better job.

4)      There is a time to get advice from another person.

2.       There is also a time to lose.

a.       How many mothers have said to their child:  “It is time for you to lose that pacifier”?

b.      It is time to lose some weight.

c.       There are times to lose a friend.

 

B.      A time to keep, and a time to cast away

1.       There is a time to keep a car and a time to cast away a car.

2.       There is a time to keep the leftovers and a time to cast away the leftovers.

3.       There is a time to keep a subscription and a time to cast away a subscription.

4.       There is a time to keep time and a time to cast away time.

5.       There is a time to keep books and a time to cast away books.

6.       There is a time to keep clothing and a time to cast away clothing.

7.       NOTE:

a.       Sometimes we cast away things that we should have kept (i.e., tax documents, notes, instructions, pictures, receipts).

b.      Sometimes we keep things that we should have cast away (i.e., newspapers, magazines, boxes, paint, old electronics).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:7 – A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

 

Thought:  There is a time to tear something into pieces.  After paying off a mortgage, many love to tear it into pieces.  An old garment may be torn into pieces to be used as rags.  There is also a time to sew.  Mothers with growing children know this truth all too well.  If only all of us could learn the “when” of the second couplet:  “…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”  If we could learn this, we would become wise indeed.  Sadly, we often speak when we should be silent and remain silent when we should speak.

 

Acts 4:18-20

 

Commentary:

 

A.     A time to rend, and a time to sew

1.       A time to rend

a.       When this writer was growing up, we did not buy new pants as we were growing.  There came a time when the hem needed to be torn out and made longer.

b.      There are times when old clothes can no longer be worn and they are torn into rags.

c.       When someone is hurt in the wilderness, clothing is often torn and used as bandages.

d.      In the Old Testament, individuals would often rend their garments in time of grief and deep sorrow (2 Sam. 3:31).

 

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.  And king David himself followed the bier.

 

2.       A time to sew

a.       Again, when we had pants that had holes in the knees, my mom would sew on a patch.

b.      There was a time when mothers sewed almost all of their children’s clothes.  When the child grew to a certain point, the mom knew that it was time to sew.

 

B.      A time to keep silence, and a time to speak

1.       There is a time to keep silence

a.       We do not always have to open out mouth and say something.

b.      We must learn that silence does not necessarily mean agreement.

c.       Words can sometimes make situations worse rather than making them better (Prov. 26:4).

 

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him,

 

d.      Jesus understood that there is a time to keep silence.

1.       Before the high priest (Matt. 26:62-63)

 

And the high priest arose and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing?  what is it which these witness against thee?  But Jesus held his peace.  And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

 

2.       Before Pilate (Matt. 27:12-14)

 

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.  Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?  And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

 

3.       Before Herod (Luke 23:8-9)

 

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad:  for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.  Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

 

2.       There is also a time to speak

a.       Proverbs 26:5

 

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceits.

 

b.      There is a time to stand up and be heard.

c.       During His trials, there were times when Jesus would remain silent and there were times when He would speak (John 19:8-11).

 

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou?  But Jesus gave him no answer.  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me?  knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were give thee from above:  therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

 

d.       LESSONS: 

1)      The main problem that we have is choosing when to be silent and when to speak.  Regret can come in both instances.

a)      If we are silent and we should have spoken, we regret it.

b)      It we speak and we should have remained silent, we regret it.

2)      Whether we speak or remain silent, we must learn to live with the consequences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:8 – A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

Thought:  We all understand that there times to love, but we have difficulty when it comes to times when we must hate.  When are we to hate?  We are to hate iniquity.  We are to hate false ways.  We are to hate the things God hates.  When these things enter into our lives, we are to hate.  Solomon also declares that there is a time for war and a time of peace.  He understood that nations are sometimes forced to defend themselves.  But, it is a blessing when peace takes the place of war. 

 

Psalm 119:128

 

Commentary:

 

A.     A time to love, and a time to hate…

1.       There is a time to love

a.       There are times that arise in our lives, when the display of love is absolutely essential.

b.      When the woman came and washed Jesus’ feet, others displayed hatred toward her, but Jesus manifested love (Matt. 26:6-13).

c.       On the cross of Calvary, Jesus could have displayed hatred, but instead He extended love (Luke 23:34).

 

Then said Jesus, Father, forgiven them; for they know not what they do…

 

2.       There is a time to hate.

1.       At no time should we ever love things that are sinful, evil, and in opposition to God.

a.       Proverbs 8:13

 

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil…

 

b.      Amos 5:15

 

Hate the evil, and love the good…

 

2.       LESSON:  The world is trying to get us to love things today that are evil. 

a.       It began with urging us to tolerate the evil.

b.      Now, we are being told that we must accept the evil.

c.       We are threatened with punishment if we speak out against the evil.

d.      They will try to use our “Christianity” against us if we display hatred for the evil.  They will tell us that we are supposed to love and not hate.

 

B.      There is a time of war, and a time of peace

1.       A time of war

a.       Notice that Solomon does not say:  “There is a time to make war.”

b.      The Bible teaches us to seek peace with all men (Rom. 12:18).

c.       However, there are times when others want war and refuse peace.  In those instances, there is a time for war.  We must be prepared to fight. (Ex., Israel and Sihon, Deut. 2:26-27, 32-33).

2.       A time of peace

a.       From time to time, there are periods of peace in our lives and in the world.

b.      The Bible exhorts for us to pray for such times (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

 

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.