Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To Everything a Season
Intro.
1. Many live unbalanced lives:
a. Unbalanced morally (life without God), Rom. 1:28-29.
b. Unbalanced materially (love of money), 1 Tim. 6:9-10.
c. Unbalanced spiritually (self-righteous), Luke 18:9-12; Rom. 10:2-3.
2. Unbalanced living contributes to emotional imbalances (stress, anxiety, depression) and phys. ailments (Prov. 25:16). The worst imbalance of all is the spiritual ailment of sin.
3. God created life with balance (light & dark, day & night, water & land, atmosphere & space, man & woman, phys. & spir. realms).
4. By acknowledging God gives balance to life (morally, materially, spiritually) we arrive at a balance in ourselves and are able to live a fulfilled life, Eccl. 7:13-18 (12:13).
I. TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, Eccl. 3:1-8.
A. Great Passage on Life’s Balance. (songs and poems, etc.)
1. Season: A fixed, definite portion of time; occasion (Neh. 2:6).
2. Time: A period of time (moment); general, Eccl. 9:11-12.
B. Recognizing the Times and Seasons of Life Helps Us Remain Balanced as We Live Through Them.
1. 3:2: Born/Die (Heb. 9:27); Plant/Reap (Gen. 8:22).
2. 3:3:
Kill (execution, etc.); Heal (medicate, soothe,
Luke 10:34);
Break down (unsuitable bldgs.); Build up (improvements).
3. 3:4: Weep/Mourn: Sadness, Eccl. 7:2; Laugh/Dance, Eccl. 8:15.
4. 3:5: Cast/Gather stones: Clearing fields, building, etc. (Isa. 5:2).
5. 3:5: Embrace/Refrain: Legit/illicit; Delight/distraction (1 Cor. 7:5).
6. 3:6: Gain/Lose; Keep/Throw away: Possessions (Acts 27:18-19, 38).
7. 3:7: Tear/Sew: Time of grief (Gen. 37:29, 34); Repair afterwards.
8. 3:7: Silence/Speak: “Silence is golden,” Prov. 17:27-28; 18:13; 23:9.
Wise counsel at right moment, Prov. 15:23; 25:11 (Jer. 20:9).
9. 3:8:
Love/Hate: Neighbor (Lev. 19:18);
Enemy (Matt. 5:43-44).
Love God (good)/Hate evil, Psalm 34:14;
Amos 5:15; Rom.
12:9.
10. 3:8: War/Peace: War defending truth (2 Cor. 10:3-6; 1 Tim. 6:12);
Against evil (Eph. 6:13). Peace with brethren (Eph. 4:3; James 4:1-2); Peace with all when possible (Rom. 12:18).
II. KEYS TO FINDING AND MAINTAINING LIFE’S BALANCE.
A. Accept That All Your “Why” Questions Will Not Be Answered, Eccl. 8:16-17.
-Therefore, learn to be content in life, Eccl. 8:14-15 (Phil. 4:11).
B. Enjoy Life by Meeting Your Responsibilities, Rejoicing in God, and Doing the Work before You, Eccl. 5:18-20.
C. Fear God and Keep His Commands, Eccl. 12:13 (1).
Conclusion
1. Solomon found balance, Eccl. 12:9-11.
2. Yet, he lost balance of faithfulness in sin (1 Kings 11:1-9).
3. Gospel calls us to the balanced life of discipleship to Jesus: Balanced faith, values, character, conduct, with endurance unto the heavenly reward.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted March 9, 2022