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