Reflections On Ecclesiastes Three
Key Verse: A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:8 (AMP)
Love is a beautiful thing; everyone wants to be loved. The Bible records different people who loved others and the various ways they expressed love. Abraham is the first one mentioned who loved Isaac, his son; Isaac, in turn, loved Rebekah, his wife. It is natural to love our spouses, family members, and even our friends. People also love different types of food, hobbies, and professions. Shouldn’t every time be the right time to love?
Cook some of that tasty food that I love so much and bring it to me. I want to eat it once more and give you my blessing before I die.” Genesis 27:4(CEV)
Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes [so that you can do your work], and you will be satisfied with bread. Proverbs 20:13(AMP)
He also built fortified towers in the open country and dug many cisterns, because he had large herds of livestock in the western foothills and plains. Because he loved farming, he encouraged the people to plant vineyards in the hill country and to farm the fertile land. 2 Chronicles 26:10(GNT)
The first commandment God gave to Moses was for man to love God. It is not easy to love someone you can not see, but like Walter, Trobish said, “Love is a feeling to be learned.” The time to love God is now and always. So many things will come and disrupt your love for God, but you must be intentional to put your love for God first.
“So now, Isra’el, all that Adonai your God asks from you is to fear Adonai your God, follow all his ways, love him and serve Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being; Deuteronomy 10:12(CJB)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. Deuteronomy 6:5(AMP)
Love is known by its actions. God is love and has shown his love for humanity by sending Jesus to die on the Cross. The scriptures also teach us how to love the Lord. You cannot love God and also go about seeking idols to solve your problems.
Someday a prophet may come along who is able to perform miracles or tell what will happen in the future. Then the prophet may say, “Let’s start worshiping some new gods—some gods that we know nothing about.” If the prophet says this, don’t listen! The Lord your God will be watching to find out whether or not you love him with all your heart and soul. Deuteronomy 13:1-3(CEV)
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15(KJV)
But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him: 1 John 2:5(AMPC)
One of our generation’s greatest tragedies is seeing people who claim to worship God yet are full of hatred for other men and show so much cruelty towards them. Many followers of Christ hate others because of their doctrines, dress, and denominations. There is no right time to hate any man created in God’s image.
“‘Do not hate your brother in your heart, but rebuke your neighbor frankly, so that you won’t carry sin because of him. Leviticus 19:17(CJB)
If a man say, “I love God,” and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20(KJV)
The Lord tests honest people but despises those who are cruel and love violence. Psalm 11:5(CEV)
The letter to the Corinthians shows how to love others by the power of the Holy Spirit, not self-discipline or self-will. The time to love is not when people do what you expect or like, but as you yield to the Holy Spirit, the fruit of love manifests through you towards others regardless of their behavior or attitude towards you. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)
But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness. Galatians 5:22(AMPC)
When does God want us to hate? The scriptures show us what God hates; as long as we hate those things, we will stay in the will of God.
You love what is right and hate what is evil. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has poured out more happiness on you than on any other king. Psalm 45:7(GNT)
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10(KJV)
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13(KJV)
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19(KJV)
As it is written and forever remains written, “Jacob I loved (chose, protected, blessed), but Esau I hated (held in disregard compared to Jacob).” Romans 9:13(AMP)
Jesus spoke about a time when the world would hate Christians because of their faith; we are in that time. Biblical values are under attack in the nations where they were formally revered. All over the world, Christians are being killed, persecuted, and canceled because of their position and views on moral issues. This hatred is not new, it happened before, and many were thrown into Lions’ dens and the fire because they confessed Christ. What should be our response to these things?
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the son of man’s sake. Luke 6:22(KJV)
“But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27(AMP)
The time to love is to pay back those who hate you with God-inspired responses. Certain prayer points make Christians curse when God has commanded us to bless. Praying for our enemies should not be to curse them. Choose God’s way and not the human or logical way. Hate anything that will separate you from the love of God.
Expect prophesy to be fulfilled, don’t be surprised by the trends instead build up your holy faith by praying in the Holy Ghost and walking in wisdom towards the world.
The world’s love is a significant threat to God’s love; hate it. Joseph fled from it, and Samson and Solomon ruined their destinies because of the love of it. Daniel hated the food he was served and spared his soul.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15(KJV)
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10(KJV)
Is this the time to seek and love mammon at the expense of eternal life? The commonwealth nations seem to believe and expect the fulfillment of the end-time prophecies more than many Christians. The recent opening ceremony at the games in Birmingham confirms this.
It is now time to love righteousness and hate wickedness in all forms and shapes. Jesus is coming for a spotless bride, not necessarily a rich one. Love for any man, business, or ministry, even the love for our lives, must not exceed the love for God.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. John 21:15(KJV)
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. John 12:25(KJV)
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37(KJV)
Prayer
Father, it is the right time to display our love for you so that men may know where we stand. Deliver us from the things that compete in our hearts for our love for you. Grant us the courage to hate what you hate, even if it is unpopular in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Ada
Photo by juan pablo rodriguez on Unsplash
