MAKING THE MOST OF MY LIFE

for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Now what is Solomon saying? He is saying that in our lifetime we will experience both good times & bad, victories & defeats, sadness & joy. God knows when these will happen, & He wants to help us through them, if we will allow Him.

B. So let’s notice a few of the 28 events of life that Solomon mentioned.

1. Vs. 2 says there is "a time to be born & a time to die, a time to plant & a time to uproot." In God’s planning, there was a day for you to be born. Long before your birth, God knew when you were going to be born.

But what happens when we short-circuit God’s plan? What about the millions of babies who were to be born, but instead were aborted? Could we have aborted the ones who would have found the cure for cancer or AIDS?

Have we destroyed another Einstein or Edison or Beethoven? In God’s plan there is a time to enter the world, & a time to leave. And too often people have short-circuited God’s plan.

2. Vs. 3 says there is "a time to kill & a time to heal, a time to tear down & a time to build.” Yes, there are things which need to be killed or torn down - bad feelings, emotions, relationships, things that are harmful & need to come to an end. And there’s a time also for things to heal, to be built up & reinforced.

3. In vs. 6 Solomon says there’s "a time to search & a time to give up, a time to keep & a time to throw away." I think of my garage & attic every time I read those words. There are people who keep things & people who pitch things, throw things away. Have you noticed that?

I’m married to a “pitcher,” & I’m a “keeper.” And once in a while she has thrown away some stuff that I just know I’m going to need some day. I don’t know exactly when, but I’m sure that I’m going to need it.

4. Vs. 7 says there’s "a time to tear & a time to mend, a time to be silent & a time to speak.” We usually get those mixed up, don’t we? We’re usually silent when we ought to speak, & we’re usually speaking when we ought to be silent.

5. Vs. 8 tells us there’s "a time to love & a time to hate, a time for war & a time for peace." The Book of Proverbs tells us that God hates the things that bring us harm in life. God hates sin because of what it does to us. So God says, "I hate these things, & I want you to hate them, too" - not the person, but the sin.

Altogether, in these verses, Solomon has listed 28 events of life, some good & some bad. And he tells us in the face of it all, we need to accept God’s guidance & God’s help in every area of our life.

II. AFFIRM YOUR FAITH IN CONFUSING TIMES

A. Now the 2nd key is, "Affirm your faith in confusing times.” In vs. 11 he says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

That’s important because Solomon is saying that the God who created us in His own image also created us with a concern about the future. And that’s unique to the human race. The animal kingdom doesn’t have eternity in its heart. Your dog isn’t planning for the future. He doesn’t have a retirement program.

But you do. And if you’re wise, you’re planning for an eternity in heaven with Jesus as your Savior & your Lord.

B. Now there is another part to vs. 11. It continues on to say, "yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning