In Your Youth

“Only the Good Die Young” is an old proverb that carries with it a variety of meanings. One of those meanings is that when young people die they’ve not been jaded by life nor have they lived long enough to have cumulated regrets hence only the good die young.

Solomon cautions the young about living a life that does not include God. In fact, one could argue the entire book of Ecclesiastes is written to the young since by the time Solomon is writing it he is an old man giving advice to an audience of much younger people. Solomon offers profound advice to young people as he concludes his book. One day everyone will grow old and die (Eccl. 11) therefore

Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”— Eccl. 12

It is incredibly difficult to put things into perspective and focus on the right priorities when you are young. You have so little experience to draw on to help build perspective and your age makes you feel immortal. You aren’t old yet – bad things and age will never happen to you. (Hate to break it to you – unless the Lord returns or tragedy strikes – you will also grow old. Father Time is undefeated) In Ecclesiastes, Solomon reflects back on his life and realizes he lived a life of youthful folly and arrogance. He pursued his own desires and ignored the Lord and now as an old man – you can hear the regret in His voice as he writes Ecclesiastes.

So, Solomon – still brimming with wisdom given to Him from God – gives his young audience very wise advice. “Remember God when you are young so when you live long enough to see hard times and then look back on your life like I have – you do not say I find no pleasure in my youthful memories.

Remembering God is the key to providing young people perspective and the life experience they lack. God has told us how to live our lives. God has told us what our true priorities and perspectives should be. So, we don’t have to nor should we wait until we are old to figure it out. God has already told us. So, remember God when you are young so when you are old you can find pleasure and happiness if you life’s memories. #Remember