A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Wesley's Notes

3:6 To life - When men lose their estates, either by God's providence, or by their own choice. To cast away - When a man casts away his goods voluntarily, as in a storm, to save his life, or out of love and obedience to God.

King James Translators' Notes

get: or, seek

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. time to get-for example, to gain honestly a livelihood (Eph 4:23).

lose-When God wills losses to us, then is our time to be content.

keep-not to give to the idle beggar (2Th 3:10).

cast away-in charity (Pr 11:24); or to part with the dearest object, rather than the soul (Mr 9:43). To be careful is right in its place, but not when it comes between us and Jesus Christ (Lu 10:40-42).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:1-10 To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle.