A Time to Love

“A time to love, and a time to hate…” -Ecclesiastes 3:8a

“A time to love.” What Old Testament writer wrote these words, and who was the “Preacher” (KJV), rendered “Teacher” (NIV and later versions), “son of David” referred to as the author in Ecclesiastes 1:1? Much ink has been spilled over whether the author was King Solomon (son of David) or some other, later “preacher” or “teacher” of Israel. Of importance is that we know the message of this book in the Old Testament is from God Himself, regardless of who might have been the human instrument to pen the words. And he taught us that there is “a time to love.” (We’ll focus on love here; not hate, although, according to the Teacher/Preacher, there is a time for both in human affairs.)

A wise teacher of the Bible once taught me something that has remained with me for many years: “Nearly always, you can find in the Bible itself an interpretation of verses, principles or questions that trouble you. Just keep reading and searching prayerfully, and God, in His Word, will reveal the truth to you.” For interpreting “a time to love,” consider these:

The Teacher/Preacher stated in Ecclesiastes 2:26a: “For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight.” In Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.” And in a catalogue of “times” that transpire in human experience, we learn: “A time to be born, a time to plant, a time to kill, a time to weep, a time to cast away stones, a time to get, a time to rend, a time to love…” and there are more seasons. With each of these actions, the usual Hebrew poetic device of parallelism—or positioning one action against a contrasting action—is used. This helps us to see and understand more clearly “a time to love…”

In the heart of God, love was born.
In the heart of humankind, made in the image of God, is the capacity for love.

Therefore, the God of love ordained that we, His creation most like Him, have the capacity to love. Love is lofty, a sublime emotion. Love is an offering, poured out in submission and joy. Love is vital, life-giving, sustaining.

Love is eternal, transcendent. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13.) The time to love is now!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, February 6, 2010