We accumulate material things over the years and eventually there comes a time where we must relieve ourselves of some of these things.
One example of this would be things that keep us tied to people of our pasts, which may prevent us from moving forward in our relationship with Chirst, or the Father's plans for our lives. Do you perhaps have any object links to ungodly soul ties?
We must keep our faith and desire to serve Him and throw away those things that bring hinderances to our growth in Him. Whether they are desires for things or people you cannot have, or habits/ behaviors you need to be rid of, we should regularly do a spiritual inventory.
3:7a A time to tear, And a time to sew;
It was customary for one to tear his garment when mourning and to sew it back together when the grieving period had passed.
3:7b: A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
Gaining wisdom of knowing when to speak takes spiritual discernment and experience. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. Words can edify and build up, or they can harm and tear down.
It is important to know when God has given us a Word for someone else and that you are not delivering a message based on your own feelings and emotion. On the other side of this, if you know for sure that God has given you a message for someone, and opens the door for you to deliver it, you must be obedient to Him. The Word you give may not always be well received, as is evident throughout history of God's prophets, but one must still act in obedience to God.
You must also speak in a firm but loving manner when you see blatant wrong or sin among your brothers and sisters. Christ's teachings give us wisdom to know the kinds of the things that should not be allowed to go on.
Some final thoughts:
Proverbs 15:23, A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Proverbs 15:31-32, The ear that hears the rebuke of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
Luke 17:3, "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
3:8a A time to love, and a time to hate;
We can find an example of "a time to hate" in Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
The phrase "does not hate" is rhetorical. It is to get attention and stress the importance of the message. We must not put anyone or anything before God. Our desire for these common relationships should be less than the desire for a relationship with our Lord.
3:8b A time of war, and a time of peace.
This not only pertains to the flesh, but can also pertain to the spirit world. As we know, we are in a war; we are the light fighting against the darkness, the goodness of Christ fighting against the evil wiles of the devil.True inner peace comes from standing guarded with the spiritual armor we have been given (Ephesians 6), and knowing that it is all in God's hands.
