Do you remember me?” A pause. Vacant eyes. My mother was speaking to Betty, a fellow churchgoer from years past, who now lived at a local nursing home. My mom tried again. “Do you remember my husband? He’s right here.” Betty responded with an excited “Yes,” followed by a look of confusion. As the two women talked, Betty’s mind faded in and out.
Betty’s condition illustrates what the Bible says about our years here on earth. Old age may limit us in some ways (Ecclesiastes 12:3). On the other hand youth is a time of opportunity and possibility. And, believe it or not, the Bible encourages young people to have a good time. Solomon said, “It’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in” (Ecclesiastes 11:9).
There’s just one catch. Solomon balanced his message with this thought: “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Specifically he urged young people to remember God “before the door to life’s opportunities is closed” (Ecclesiastes 12:4), while they were still able to work, before fear overwhelmed them and while they still had energy to serve God (Ecclesiastes 12:5).
The second half of Solomon’s message is important because young people often think they have all the time in the world. Because they are wealthy with the resource of time, they may spend it carelessly.
To guard against this, we can dedicate our younger years to serve passionately within the church, found and foster new ministries, or become globetrotters for God. Regardless of the mission, we need to honor God in our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1), so that later in life our gray hair will be a crown of glory, achieved by living a godly life (Proverbs 16:31).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 7:32-53
More:
Read 2 Timothy 2:22 to learn about four things to pursue instead of youthful longings. Read Proverbs 20:29 for a contrast between the strengths of young and old people.
Next:
Why should we guard against taking our younger years for granted? How might you ‘remember God’ in your life today?
winn collier on July 28, 2012 at 9:48 am
living a good life, with good days, toward a good end. thank you.
jennifer benson schuldt on July 28, 2012 at 8:53 pm
🙂
mommy7 on July 28, 2012 at 11:56 am
This was my first day of starting with odj and I have to say that God knew this is what I needed to hear. Thank you so much for offering this on the internet for women like me.
jennifer benson schuldt on July 28, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Welcome to ODJ! Isn’t it wonderful when God brings a message to us that is exactly what we need? The same thing happened to me earlier this week. I read a Bible passage as part of a daily reading plan that matched my circumstances at that very moment. The Word of God is living and active, indeed. 🙂
daisymarygoldr on July 29, 2012 at 9:02 pm
When I was young we spent a three-day youth camp studying Ecclesiastes 11:9- 12:1. At first glance, it appears like the Preacher is advocating young people to be happy, don’t worry and do whatever their hearts desire. But the second half of the verse reveals the reality that we must give an account to God for everything we do.
Some teach that God is encouraging the young to “enjoy the exuberance of youth” with “God as their guide”. This is not what is being implied here. It is a solemn warning for young people to flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness. Developing the practise of righteousness in the young will help them return even if they go through a prodigal phase in their lives.
“Remember”, means to acknowledge. To always be mindful of God’s watchful eyes while young will help you fight against the temptations of youth and thereby avoid consequences that can last a lifetime. When youthful energy is directed in the right path, the early years is the best time to experience the newfound joy of personally tasting God’s goodness. This is the perfect period when young people can devote the deepest passions to discover the sweet intimacy of “knowing” God.
Moreover, it is good for people to submit to the yoke of God’s discipline at an early age (Lamentations 3:27). Because in old age, we tend to develop hardened hearts and stiff-necks that refuse to bend to God’s ways. It is best to serve God with the first fruit years of our lives instead of giving Him our left over days. Once the right foundation of our faith in Christ is laid down in these impressionable years, it will keep us steadfast in Him even when everything falls apart in our old age.
Thanks Jennifer for the timely reminder for the young to not procrastinate but serve God now!
mauilamb on August 2, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Aloha, Ms. Schuldt: you write in the hard copy Our Daily Bread for August 2, 2012, that “While standing in a checkout line, … I barely noticied when the woman ahead of me shuffled to the exit, leaving all of her items behind. The clerk confided that the woman didn’t have enough money to pay her bill. I felt terrible; if only I had been aware of her situation earlier, I would have helped her.”
You share this story under the banner that we must “bear someone’s burden.” Forgive me for asking, but how were you bearing someone’s burden if you didn’t witness to that woman and pay for her items? Your sentence “I would have helped her.” reminds me of Paul’s exhortation to us all, “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.” Ephesians 4:17 (NLT)
Often, in the community I live in there are so many who have less than me that I could never let an opportunity to witness pass by. Not that my flesh wouldn’t allow me, but God’s Holy Spirit would convict me right there and then.
MauiLamb
jennifer benson schuldt on August 3, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Hi MauiLamb,
Thank you for your careful reading of the August 2 devotional in Our Daily Bread. As I wrote that piece, I hoped that readers might be encouraged to investigate and become aware of some needs around them—and then to meet those needs. As you pointed out, some needs are spiritual as well as physical in nature.