1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: 8 A time to love and a time to hate;...” IT’S TIME TO HATE! Ecclesiastes 3:1,8a

Most of us probably have a pretty negative view of HATE. We think of it as a BAD emotion to have! The media has certainly made it into a four letter word. In and of itself, hate is not any better or worse than love. Both love and hate can and must have proper objects; they are both appropriate feelings to have toward CERTAIN THINGS at CERTAIN TIMES! IT’S TIME TO HATE!

Sometimes love and hate are the two sides of the same coin. Love for one thing might necessitate hate for something else. (Matthew 6:24) That’s the way it is with God and sin! If we love God, we MUST hate sin! (Psalms 97:10) IT’S TIME TO HATE! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!

If we really love God, it’s time we start hating sin! Hate sin in ourselves and in others. Hate it with the same intensity of passion that is equal to the intensity of our love for God. IT’S TIME TO HATE!

Sin should not be hated merely as some abstract, vague concept. Sin is real and we must get down to the SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF TRANSGRESSION! We are not only to hate the idea of sin, but also every occurrence of sin! Many plain passages of Scriptures that command hatred of specific sins! IT’S TIME TO HATE! “DO I REALLY HATE THIS SIN?”

Do I really hate PRIDE, ARROGANCE, THE EVIL WAY and THE PERVERSE MOUTH? Do we fully agree with the wise man who said: "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate" (Prov. 8:13) These are common sins in our society but they are not looked upon as sins. “It’s just the way society is!” IT’S TIME TO HATE!

Do I really hate LYING? "A righteous man hates lying" (Prov. 13:5). All of us, both righteous and unrighteous, hate being lied to, but the question is, “Do you yourself hate lying?” IT’S TIME TO HATE!

Do I really hate TAKING GOD’S NAME IN VAIN? In Psalms 139:20-22 the Psalmist says: "...Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You. I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them my enemies.” Not a day goes by that I do not hear someone take God’s name in vain! “Oh my God”, “God --- it”, just plain “God”. What about Euphemisms: “Oh my Gosh”, “Gosh darn it”, “Golly”, “Gosh”. Such language does not become Ok just because it is common or “that’s just the real world we live in”! IT’S TIME TO HATE!

Do I really hate TAKING GOD’S NAME IN VAIN? We must not allow continual exposure to dull our sensitivity to it! God is to be reverenced. His Holy name is to be blessed; not cursed nor used in vain. (Psalms 89:7; 103:1) "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.”; 103:1 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” God fearing people should consistently abhor the practice of profaning God’s name! IT’S TIME TO HATE!

Do I really hate COVETOUSNESS? "He who hates covetousness will prolong his days" (Prov. 28:16). The desire for what others possess is commonly looked upon as a virtue in our materialistic culture. It begins at a very early age. The reason? - Children see covetousness in adults. Instead of allowing the influences of our society to lull us into accepting and participating in covetousness, we should hate covetousness with every fiber of our being. This sin is the reason why we are not content with what we have! (1 Tim. 6:6,8) IT’S TIME TO HATE! 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Do I really hate VIOLENCE? "The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.” (Psa. 11:5) Since the Lord hates the very soul of the one who loves violence, wouldn’t it be wise to completely remove any affection for violence from our heart? Do you enjoy movies, television programs, video games or books that contain violence? Do you desire to solve problems at home, in the work place, among neighbors, or in the church through violence or THE THREAT OF IT? Do you hate violence?... OR are you entertained by it?... OR do you engage in it yourself at times? IT’S TIME TO HATE!

Do I really hate DIVORCE? God does!... “For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce.” (Malachi 2:16). Jesus allows for divorce when the CAUSE is for fornication. (Matthew 19:9) Do we condone divorce when it is for any other cause? What if it is our children/grandchildren in a “bad” marriage? Would we approve of their divorcing an “incompatible” mate? If so, we really don’t hate divorce like God does! IT’S TIME TO HATE! 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Do I really hate FALSE TEACHING? In Revelation 2:6 and 2:15, Jesus made it plain He hated the false teaching “of the Nicolaitians” and that He expected the members of the church to do the same. Can we honestly say we really hate false doctrine when we refuse to “mark” and “avoid” those who teach it, for reasons like: “They have been our friends for years” or “They are such kind and caring people”? Toleration of false teaching and those who teach it can scarcely be called hatred. (Romans 16:17-18) IT’S TIME TO HATE! 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

CONCLUSION: Hating evil is NOT un-Christ-like! It is most Christ-like! Jesus hated evil more than anyone ever hated anything! The Book of Hebrews says of Him: "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions" (1:9) Let us be like Christ; let us hate sin! To hate sin is to know love, for love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6) IT’S TIME TO HATE!

“Through thy precepts I get understanding, Therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalms 119:104)