Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Verse 6
Ver. 6. A time to get, and a time to loſe; a time to keep, and a time to caſt away.
IT is clear that theſe Four Inſtances are mainly to be underſtood of things Temporal, and of an earthly concernment, ſeeing things Spiritual and Heavenly being once gotten, can never be loſt Rom. 11.29. Nor is there any time wherein men ought to think of parting with them Prov. 23.23. ſo that the time of getting is both the time which God hath foreappointed, and which men ought to obſerve and make uſe of, for purchaſing ſuch a meaſure of things Worldly, as He hath allotted for them: Next, The Time of Loſing is that which God hath foreordained, wherein men ſhall be neceſſitate to loſe theſe things, and which men ſhould (not deſire, but) expect and prepare for. Thirdly the Time of Keeping is not to be underſtood as if there were any time wherein men ſhould give out nothing for holy uſes, which were contrary to Pſal. 37, 26. and other Scriptures; but of that Time which Providence hath alloted men for enjoying things earthly, and wherein they ought to leave no lawful means uneſſayed for retaining of them. And lastly, The Time of Caſting away is not to be underſtood, as if men at any time ſhould take on voluntary Poverty, but that there is a Time fixed wherein Gods Providence calls men, not only to ſubmit to loſe, but voluntarily and chearfully, to part with all they have, in the caſes afterward mentioned.
Hence Learn. 1. As it is lawful and neceſſary for men to make uſe of opportunities of getting or purchaſing things Worldly, providing they ſeek no more than a competency Prov. 30.8. that they ſeek things heavenly in the firſt place Matt. 6.33. And that they take the time and means approven for that end, 2 Kings 5.26. So ought they even when they are ſo getting, or purchaſing to depend upon the Lord as having the ſeaſon thereof in His hand, and who can eaſily diſſappoint them, when they have moſt promiſing opportunities of getting gain Jam. 4.13. For, both of the time appointed by the Lord, and of the time which men ought to obſerve, is this inſtance to be underſtood. There is a time get.
2. As the Lord hath Times appointed for exerciſing His People with Worldly loſſes, that they may ſee the vanity of Earthly things, and no more choice them for their portion, but ſeek after a better and more durable ſubſtance; So even while men have proſperous times of Getting, they ought to think upon Times of Loſing theſe things and ſo looſe their hearts from them; For, as There is a time to get, ſo, there is a time to loſe.
3. As the Lord hath appointed the time wherein men ſhall Keep what they have, during which time, all the plots and purpoſes of men to impoveriſh them, ſhall prove ineffectual; So there is a Time wherein men ought to endeavour the Keep-of what they have, by the uſe of all lawful means, defending their Worldly enjoyments and eſtates 2 Sam. 10.12. That they may employ the ſame for Gods honour, the ſupply of the poor and benefite of their poſterity, ſo long as they may with a good Conſcience get them keeped: For, There is a time to keep, &c.
4. The Lord hath times ſet, wherein He calls His People not only to be ſubmiſſive to loſs their goods and Worldly Eſtates, but alſo voluntarily to part with them, and ſometimes actively to put them away from them, eſpecially when His Providence puts them under a neceſſity either of parting with His Truth, or theſe things Heb. 10.34. When His Cauſe or People cannot otherwiſe be upheld Act. 4.34. Or when their own lives are in ſuch hazard, that they muſt caſt them from them, as a mean of Preſervation thereof. Act. 28.38. In which and the like caſes. There is a time to caſt away.