Eccl 3:1 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: These statements sound wise; but, they are truisms. Many religions have truisms to impress their followers. If you will look at these, they will make sense to you; but, they won’t do anything for your spiritual growth. These are true; but, they aren’t the truth that sets you free. Watch out for entertaining cliches, cute little sayings, and interesting mental puzzles to occupy your mind. They won’t prepare you for life or for eternity.

Eccl 3:2a (NIV) A time to be born and a time to die: God has a purpose for your life. Your life is in between your birth and your death. Your time to be born was orchestrated by God so as to put you on this planet at just the right time for you to succeed. The issue isn’t that there was a time for you to be born and a time for you to die. The issue is, what will you do with that space between birth and death? Will you devote that time to God’s will for you?

Eccl 3:2b (NIV) A time to plant and a time to uproot: Solomon is talking about planting physical seeds and uprooting dead plants that have served their purpose. In Matthew 13:3-8 Jesus talked about a sower going out and planting seeds that represent you sharing the wonderful things of God with the people around you. What Solomon said made him look like he was really smart, which he was; but, what Jesus said is the process that brought salvation to your life. SOMEONE planted the seed of the good news in your life and you were born again. That is TRUTH!

Eccl 3:3a (NIV) A time to kill and a time to heal: There are wars that are instigated by aggressors taking over people’s homes, lives, and countries. And there are defenders that go to battle trying to save and protect people from aggressors. It isn’t just a time to kill, it is a time to protect. There aren’t seasons specifically devoted to killing. There are situations that require it:

Rom 13:4 (NIV) For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

It is always a time to heal. If war, law enforcement, or judgment can be replaced with healing, then healing is always the desired solution to the problem.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:9 (NIV): Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Once you get drawn into this system Solomon is representing, you can get trapped into thinking that this is or isn’t the “season” for a particular behavior or event. God wants you to be led in His Spirit while doing His will. He doesn’t want you believing in seasons.

Eccl 3:3b (NIV) A time to tear down and a time to build: It’s easy to accept this concept when you are thinking about buildings. But, this principle can easily work its way into being a relational principle. It can cause divorce, a breakup of a family or friendships, or a destruction of a business. If you start thinking it is a time for you to tear down, then you are obligated to tear down. But, if you are submitted to God, you will listen to what He wants. Times and seasons aren’t the deciding factor, God is!

Eccl 3:4a (NIV) A time to weep and a time to laugh: Jesus said in Matthew 5:4 (NIV) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. This isn’t a time for mourning, it is a need for mourning. When you have done something wrong to yourself, other people, and God’s plan, it is important to feel bad. But, God doesn’t want you to stay in the condition of feeling bad for a season of mourning. He wants you to mourn over it, let the mourning heal your heart, and let His forgiveness heal your life, and you move on with life.

For they will be comforted: You can’t just mourn and then decide you have mourned enough. Time doesn’t have anything to do with it. God wants you to mourn until your heart gets healed. But, He doesn’t want you mourning for the rest of your life. He will put a power-comfort in your heart. You will need to mourn UNTIL God’s power-comfort fills your heart. You aren’t mourning so as to punish yourself for doing wrong. You are mourning to bring healing to your heart. Once that happens, you heart will be ready to be comforted.

Eccl 3:4b (NIV) A time to mourn and a time to dance: It can be a time to mourn and dance at the same time. Sometimes God uses the exciting things to drive out the depressing things. Phil 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. You may be mourning because you are thinking the wrong thoughts. Philippians 4:8 will drive out those bad thoughts and get you dancing.

Gal 5:22-23 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. These are you heart healers. When you are mourning, if it is because something is depressing you, it is TIME to ask God to drive any negative feeling out of your heart with His fruit of the Spirit. It isn’t just a season where you need to go through negative emotions and “time will heal all wounds.” You need God to heal your wounds with His power-emotions.

Eccl 3:5a (NIV) A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them: You may set up a time to scatter stones in your yard or to pick them up out of your field. Time is in your and God’s hands. How you use your time to fulfill projects isn’t just a timing issue, it is a will of God issue. Rom 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will.

You may feel like it is time to scatter or gather stones. You may feel God doesn’t care about such insignificant things. It’s true God doesn’t care about the stones; He cares about the time. If there is someone in trouble right at that moment and you need to be there, He needs you to drop what you are doing and go. In Luke 10:30-35, Jesus tells about a Samaritan who was taking care of his life’s business. He came across a badly damaged man and dropped his TIMES, plans, schedules, and goals. He quit his “ time to scatter or gather stones” and did what God wanted him to do.

Eccl 3:5b (NIV) A time to embrace and a time to refrain: Jesus said in Matthew 5:39 (NIV) But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Is it time to embrace this evil person or time to do what Jesus tells you to do? Is this a season for you to maintain a relationship with this evil person and keep getting slapped until the time or season is over? Or, after you have applied Matthew 5:39, are you to apply another Scripture and get away from this evil person as fast as you can?

Mat 7:6 (NIV) Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Is it time to refrain from allowing an evil person to slap you? Or, is it a time to apply the Word of God to the situation and get away from them? Time isn’t the issue! Obedience to the Word of God is the issue.

Gal 4:9-11 (NIV) But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Eccl 3:6-8 (NIV) A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Solomon could have gone on and on citing situations like this. But, he wasn’t helping himself or anyone else. His mind was tormenting him; his thoughts were swirling around trying to find an answer outside of God. He wanted to keep extreme pleasure and find an answer in his body, the world, and the devil. He was NEVER going to find one there.