A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
Okay. Now that you've read it carefully, let's talk. Reading carefully through this passage there seems to be a lot of contradiction. There also seems to be some "times" which are hard to understand from a "godly" point of view. Yet consider this... everything listed here can be worship. Much is worship. Much can be used to glorify the Creator.
Before we look at some specific "times", let's be reminded of a passage in scripture from Paul. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 he says that all things are lawful. Meaning all things are permissible. He says this twice in the same verse. Followed by two statements. First, not everything is beneficial. Second, not everything is constructive. He speaks here regarding particular issues regarding types of food and food that comes from idol worship, but the concept is applicable to wider concept.
Understand this... we have a great freedom in Jesus to live free. To not be bound by the old law. We do have a wonderful guide called the Holy Spirit to follow. The Holy Spirit will compliment what God's word says about out lives. Everything is permissible. Yet, God does provide seasons or "times" in our life when things may not be beneficial or constructive. An amazing gift is the freedom he gives us to worship him, to glorify him, in such a great diverse number of ways.
Killing is something we generally see as sin. It's wrong. Yet, clearly in various places in scripture, God commanded killing at times (1 Samuel 15:3; Number 21:3; Numbers 31:17-18, etc). This can be hard to understand. But his ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8). We also however know that God is a God of healing (Exodus 15:26). These are two seemingly contrary commands. But they are not.
Tear down and rebuild. Scatter stones and gather stones. Tear and mend. Look at the scripture again above. It is a list of opposites. Two seemingly contrary statements. War and peace. Love and hate. Hate? Really? Isn't God a God of love? Yes. But consider this... we are told to love ourselves (not vainly, but because God loves us) but we should also hate the sin we find in ourselves. Love self. Hate self. Two seemingly contrary statements.
But they are not. Timing is what is important. Everything listed in the above "Time for Everything" passage is appropriate and permissible at certain times. They all can glorify God when in the right time and with a heart focused on Jesus. Later in the passage Solomon, the writer, declares that God made EVERYTHING beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). In other words... he gave us ALL these things in order to glorify him, to worship him.
Be encouraged to live freely. Follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. Seek God and discover, accept, and appreciate God's great and perfect timing in these "times" in your life. Much is worship. Use it to glorify Jesus!
worship Him 24/7...
scott