A Time for Everything

Introduction

Change is hard

Hotel rooms

Showers

Beds

Pillows

Finding your stuff

In this text Qoholeth deals with this changing world.

Flipping Perspective – In chapter 1 we so there was no gain because nothing changes. As if he anticipates our response, Qoheleth now changes perspective. There is no gain because everything changes.

Background

Ecclesiastes sets out to answer one simple question: What profit does a men get from his labor?

The central answer is depressing: Vanity of vanity. Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

In chapter 1 we see vanity in our labor because nothing really changes so there can be no profit.

In chapter 2 we see vanity in the pursuit of profit in a variety of places

Wisdom

Pleasure

Labor

In chapter 3 we are going to see the futility of investing in life under the sun because everything changes

It's almost as if the preacher is responding to objections

Someone might reply to ch. 1, "Things do change!" So here the preacher will illustrate that even that change is vanity

While we will see vanity, we will also see hope in the control of God

Life in Tension

Ecclesiastes 3:1–9 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?

The Preacher’s Observation

Everything is cyclical

Not a call to do things at the right time

Merely an observation

No judgements are made on the various activities.

No responsibility is given to man in relation to these activities.

What do we make of the cyclical nature of our experience? Is there profit in it?

The Preacher’s Evaluation

Ecclesiastes 3:10–11 ESV

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.

We face a difficult tension

We travail

We see beauty

We are conscious of eternity

We see there is something beyond us

Underlying this tension is the sovereignty of God

"Business he has given"

"Put eternity"

"God has done"

So we see that there is hard work and there is beauty in this world, but there is also a consciousness that it is not permanent

The Preacher’s Conclusion

The preacher the draws two conclusions from this fact

We see temporary joy

Ecclesiastes 3:12–13 (ESV)

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.

Observation and response

Observation: There is nothing better than to rejoice and do good.

Response: Eat and drink and enjoy pleasure!

Enjoy it as the gift of God

For God's glory

Certainly, this means that we don't enjoy the pleasures of sin

We see lasting value

Ecclesiastes 3:14–15 (ESV)

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.

Observation and response

Observation: There is something beyond this life though.

Response: Fear the Lord!

True gain only comes in eternity

Eternity is established and maintained by God

"God does"

"God has done"

"God seeks"

Because of God's control we fear him

What is the fear of the Lord?

Fear is an acknowledgement of something's uncontrolability

In this sense fear is faith

God can and will do what he pleases. Stop fighting him and acknowledge that he is in control.

The Bridge

Tying these two ideas (temporary joy & lasting value) together is the God who controls them both

There is temporary joy because God gives it

Makes things beautiful

There is lasting gain in eternity

Does enduring things

Conclusion

Enjoy this life but realize there is something more

This is the battle of the Christian life

Our culture screams "Now!"

Our passions scream "Now!"

The gospel tells us "Wait!"

Enjoy this life but accept the sovereignty of God

When we deny God's sovereignty

We will try to change the things we can't change (The past)

We will be trying to maintain the things we can't maintain (The present)

Concern and Responsibility

Spiritual vacation – Moving responsibilities to concern

Despair - We think God has failed.

Futility - Praying for God to do what I'm supposed to do.

Mini messiah – Moving concerns to responsibility

Discouragement – Not qualified to do what we are attempting.

Neglect – Ignores the things we should do because we're trying to do what we can't do.