Skip to content

Q&A Part 3 – How Can I Make the Most of My Time?

Pastor Scott Applegate

Sermon Notes:

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 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 mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 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. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil–this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 NIV

I Need To …

1.  Remember that my time on earth has an expiration date.

“a time to be born and a time to die”  Ecclesiastes 3:2a NIV

2.  Accept that God has a purpose in both the good and difficult times of my life.

(Ecclesiastes 3:2b-8)

Good/Difficult

  •  Plant/Uproot
  • Heal/Kill
  • Build/Tear down
  • Laugh/ Weep
  • Dance/Mourn
  • Gather/Scatter stones
  • Embrace/Refrain
  • Search/Give up
  • Keep/Throw away
  • Mend/Tear
  • Speak/Be silent
  • Love/Hate
  • Peace War

3.  Hold on to my faith in confusing times.

“Though God has planted eternity in the hearts of men, even so, man cannot see the whole scope of God’s work, from beginning to end.”  Ecclesiastes 3:11b LB

4.  Devote my talents to doing good.

“There is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.”  Ecclesiastes 3:12 NIV

5.  Learn to find my joy in the ordinary things of life.

“All of us should eat and drink and enjoy what we’ve worked for.  It is God’s gift.”  Ecclesiastes 3:13 GNT

“However many years a man may life, let him enjoy them all.”  Ecclesiastes11:8a NIV

6.  Believe that I will give an account for my responsibilities.

“That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.” Ecclesiastes 3:15 NKJV

“Each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  Romans 14:13 NIV