A Godly Foundation
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth. . . .
—Ecclesiastes 11:9
There are so many challenges facing the youth of today as their friends are drinking, smoking, doing drugs, and having sex. They tend to think they are indestructible, with long lives ahead of them.
But in many ways, my generation faced the same challenges. When I look at my friends from high school, I see the toll their lifestyle has taken. I see the alcoholism and drug addiction and broken marriages and estranged children. And of those I know who have chosen the lifestyle that so many youth are now choosing, not one is happy today. But when you are young, you don’t think about repercussions. You don’t think about things catching up with you.
Listen to the words of Solomon, specifically directed to young people: “ ‘Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes . . .’ ” (Ecclesiastes 11:9). It almost sounds as if Solomon were saying, “Go for it. Do whatever you want.” But then he added, “ ‘But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment’ ” (verse 9).
Solomon then gave this wise counsel: “ ‘Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” ’ ” (Ecclesiastes 12:2). In other words, Solomon was saying, “Get right with God now. Start developing godly patterns and godly habits in your life.”
If you are young (or young at heart) those patterns and habits will be the foundation and grid you will build on for years to come.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.
Copyright © 2006 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.