It’s Time to Get Serious
Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 3 relate fourteen comparisons in life. Among them are “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” (vs. 4) We understand this to mean, “There’s a time to be serious.” I suggest it’s that time!
No one is getting younger; time adds seconds, which become minutes, which become hours, then days, then years to our lives. But the clock can stop at any moment! Are we ready? Are we prepared for Judgment Day? If not, why not? (Acts 17:30- 31; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Peter 3; et al)
Frivolity has its place, and we have God’s blessings to enjoy such times. Yet, some folks emote a cheerful and pleasant aura, laughing and joking, to cover their sorrow and anguish. Often, such emotions hide the seriousness required to deal with the realities troubling these precious souls. As Solomon’s wisdom shows, there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, i.e., a time to be serious! To delay that time is to ignore the obvious and to allow that obvious detriment to further inflict harm to the soul. What harm, you might ask? If ignoring REALITY, one is lying to him/herself. What profit is there in a lie?
Now, think of this situation in the life of the Christian. James tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1: 2-3) This passage does not mean we can laugh at the trying times our lives are forced to endure. We must seriously deal with these times. Granted, the word “serious” is not found in the KJV of the bible, but it does appear in other translations in describing the importance of the situation. To scoff at a matter that could cause a soul to deviate from Truth and Righteousness would be unwise. The word in the KJV to prove this sentiment is “sober.” It is found twelve times in the New Testament and includes this meaning: “safe (sound) in mind, that is, self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion): - discreet, sober, temperate.” Respectfully, we add the synonym “serious-minded.”
“Sobriety” in our day and time is associated with the rehabilitation of addictions: alcohol, drugs, and other addictions. Professionals help addicts end their dependency upon these mind-altering poisons. The fact they alter “serious thinking” promotes the word “sober-minded” when the addiction is ended! This is the point of using the word in the KJV in place of the word we might use (“serious”). Sober-minded souls have ended their addiction to sin (whatever alters one’s mind from thinking seriously – see Philippians 4:8). The word “addicted” is found in the KJV of the bible (1 Corinthians 16:15-16). Notice the context: “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.” It means “to devote, from ad and dico, to dedicate.” Can this be done by a soul who is not serious-minded, who is not sober? No! Christians must be sober-minded, of a ready mind, and not one “addicted to” frivolity!
Notice Paul’s charge to Timothy: “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:13 – 16) This tells Timothy (and us!), “Be serious!” Did you notice there is only one letter difference between “meditate” and “medicate”? The mind requires the medication of meditation. It is the only manner by which SERIOUSNESS is learned, and by meditating upon God’s Word, we learn how to practice sobriety/serious-mindedness! It’s time we got serious!