As always the transcript can be read below.
ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8
There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens:2 a time to be born and a time to die,a time to plant and a time to uproot,3 a time to kill and a time to heal,a time to tear down and a time to build,4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,a time to mourn and a time to dance,5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,6 a time to search and a time to give up,a time to keep and a time to throw away,7 a time to tear and a time to mend,a time to be silent and a time to speak,8 a time to love and a time to hate,a time for war and a time for peace.
PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
ECCLESIASTES
3:1-8; PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11
TAKE TIME TO LOVE
In
this last sermon of the series, “A
SEASON FOR SERVING”,
we will give careful thought to, “a
time to love.”
(Ecclesiastes
3:8)
We intentionally need to TAKE TIME TO LOVE!
Often
people tell me that time seems to pass by so quickly. We wake up in
the morning and the next thing we know it is lunch time and then we
turn around and it is mid afternoon, then evening, and then time for
bed again. I have been told that the older you get, the faster time
appears to fly by. You are at Monday and seemingly without notice it
is the end of the week. Weeks go by, months go by (How can it already
be mid August?) And of course, years go by. Do you look at family
photos and think that it seems like only yesterday that children were
small and now they are grown up?
I have become aware that much of our lives center around time. We check to see if it is time to get up in the morning. We usually prepare and eat our meals at certain times. When working, there is a time to be at work and a time to leave. We have medical appointments that are scheduled for particular times. We arrange to meet with family or friends at an agreed upon time. If we are getting a vehicle repaired or serviced, there is a set time we are to be at the garage. We have programs we watch on tv that are at regular times.
Our lives are so scheduled by time that even when you are retired, there is still attention given to the time.
We sometimes hear people say, “There just isn’t enough time in the day for everything that needs to get done.”
As we conclude our focus on this Scripture reminding us that, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens,” (Ecclesiastes 3:8) we will consider how we can use our everyday lives to make the most of “times to love.”
How can we be sure to TAKE TIME TO LOVE?
In each day there are opportunities and possibilities that God presents us with and we must choose how we will respond.
When we choose to take hold of a “time to love”, we are representing God well. This is our purpose as followers of Jesus.
Something occurred to me when I looked closely at this key verse for today, “ A time for love and a time for hate. A time for war and a time for peace.” (vs. 8) There is an outcome to the times that we choose to make of various circumstances.
If a time to hate is the choice that we as human beings make then the ultimate outcome is war. And yes, war is armed conflict and dreadful violence and loss of life. War is also what we see in families when bitterness rages and revenge becomes the goal. War occurs when those who were once friends now become enemies. War is seen in the political realm when people are battling for their candidate and their cause and seeking to discredit and humiliate and disable an opponent.
Sadly, hate often has an extended season of activity. The damage that is done when people insist on seizing and grasping tightly a “time to hate” is tragic.
Notice by contrast, the certain link between, “a time to love” and “a time for peace.”
There cannot be peace in our world and in our relationships without expression being given to “a time to love.”
Jesus has shown us in the living of His life that love has the power to conquer hate and He calls us as His followers to also prove that this is true.
Our willingness and determination to “serve one another with love” (Galatians 5:13) has the potential to transform!
I am inspired to love by what Paul writes in Philippians 1:9, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,”
The Message translation expresses it this way, “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately.”
Back in the spring, when we were all adjusting to the reality and the effects of this pandemic, we were considering the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit developing and maturing in us in this growing season. We were reminded that the outcome of God’s Spirit at work in us will produce the fruits of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
How have you seen these fruits growing in you as you have made yourself available to serve God in this “SEASON FOR SERVING.”? Have you become more loving over these last months?
Philippians 1 emphasizes that our love is to flourish. This indicates consistent and noticeable growth.
There have been several occasions to take hold of, “a time to love” as we are living in the midst of this pandemic. We can expect that we will need to continue to allow God’s Spirit to cause love to flourish in us as this pandemic stretches on.
What unique opportunities do you have to make “a time to love” a time to respond to people in ways that will leave no doubt that Jesus loves them?
The natural and intended outcome of us embracing, “a time to love” is that our prayers get answered as we are, “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus- to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11)
If we take time for everything else in a day and do not take time to love, we have missed what God intends for us!
Please pray with me that our love will abound more and more (flourish) as we make ourselves available to TAKE TIME TO LOVE and to serve God by serving each other in this “SEASON FOR SERVING”!!