A Time for Everything
VBC Albuquerque · Feb 8, 2025
This sermon explores God's wisdom in appointing seasons for all things under heaven, from birth and death to joy and sorrow, love and hate. Though the Preacher recognizes that all God does is done at the proper time, humans cannot fully understand God's work from beginning to end. The sermon encourages believers to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, trusting that He will provide what they need.
The sermon begins by presenting the central theme from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, that there is a time for everything under heaven. Through a detailed enumeration, the author lists opposing pairs: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. This Scripture affirms that God has established a perfect order for the universe and human life, though this arrangement often exceeds our ability to comprehend.
The second section develops God's wisdom more deeply through Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 and Romans 8:28. God gives mankind work to do and discipline to undergo, so that we learn to trust in His sovereignty. Though God has set eternity in the hearts of mankind, no one can comprehend the full scope of God's work. Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work together for good to those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose. This does not mean life will always be easy, but that God has good intentions in all circumstances.
The sermon emphasizes that difficult circumstances are temporary and should not cause us to lose hope. Psalm 30:5 reminds us that weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning, showing that all trials pass away. God is always working with good intentions, and we are called to trust in His character and power regardless of our circumstances.
The final section applies the message to practical life through the teaching in Matthew 6:32-33 to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. The sermon warns that many people expend their strength on temporary things while forgetting eternal matters. Finally, the sermon encourages believers to remember their Creator while young (Ecclesiastes 12:1), meaning we should dedicate our time and mind to God from youth, so that we live a meaningful life and serve Him completely.