Ecclesiastes 3 - What time is it?
This world is a messed up place for sure, but you can find joy if you take the time.
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Ecclesiastes 3 (ESV)
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones,
and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek,
and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear,
and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
8 a time to love,
and a time to hate;
a time for war,
and a time for peace.
9 What gain has the worker from his toil?
10 I have seen the business
that God has given
to the children of man
to be busy with.
11 He
has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart,
yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than
to be joyful
and to do good as long as they live;
13 also that everyone
should eat and drink
and take pleasure in all his toil—
this is God’s gift to man.
14 I perceived that
whatever God does endures forever;
nothing can be added to it,
nor anything taken from it.
God has done it, so that people fear before him.
15 That which is, already has been;
that which is to be, already has been;
and God seeks what has been driven away.
16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that
in the place of justice,
even there was wickedness,
and in the place of righteousness,
even there was wickedness.
17 I said in my heart,
God will judge
the righteous
and the wicked,
for there is a time
for every matter
and for every work.
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man
that God is testing them
that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.
19 For what happens to the children of man
and what happens to the beasts is the same;
as one dies,
so dies the other.
They all have the same breath,
and man has no advantage over the beasts,
for all is vanity.
20 All go to one place.
All
are from the dust,
and to dust all return.
21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?
22 So I saw that
there is nothing better than that
a man should rejoice in his work,
for that is his lot.
Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
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Definitions of key terms in Ecclesiastes which make it much easier to understand.
Ecclesiastes 3 Summary
Remember that the Preacher is viewing the world (notice the repetition of the phrase and I saw...) from the perspective of under the sun. In other words, this is what the world looks like apart from the gospel. For those that stand outside of Christ, this is all they have.
Certainly the Preacher sees the ugly side of reality; the hurts, pains and problems which are the result of sin in this world. But at the same time, there's a recognition that there's good in this world, even for those who don't have the hope of the gospel.
The Preacher sees the rhythmic cycle of life: a time for this, and then a time for that. At whatever point you're at today, it will change. This gives hope for improvement if things are bad, and reminds you to enjoy the present if things are good, for it will someday be different.
The Preacher encourages you to find the beauty under the sun, for God made everything beautiful in its time (v11). Slow down and take the time to recognize the good things you have, be joyful, and take pleasure in your work (v12-13).
Dig Deeper
Even though there's lots of good down here under the sun, you need to know that you'll never be content with it, no matter how good the times are for you.
On one hand, the Preacher notes that there's not much difference between you and the animals. You will die just as they do, and at the point that Ecclesiastes was written, nobody had ever come back from the dead to confirm an afterlife (v18-20).
But you are different than the animals. You've had eternity put into your heart (v11). You can enjoy life under the sun, but your heart will never be at peace until you are brought back into a right relationship with the eternal God in who's image you've been created.
That's why this somewhat depressing book is such good news. Through Christ, you can enjoy life both under the sun as well as eternal life beyond it.
AAA Prayer:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our eternal Father who will judge the righteous and the wicked (v17)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask for the wisdom to weather the bad times and to recognize and enjoy the good times while you live under the sun.
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
