I was young once. Heck, I’m still young based on the Bible’s standards. A lot of times what is really young is just our minds, but our bodies reflect our true age or probably older.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 says, “Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything that you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God everything that you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth , with a whole life before you, is meaningless.”
The Teacher, Solomon, gives a solemn advice to young people to watch against the utter pursuit of pleasure as everyone will give an account to God. According the the Matthew Henry Commentary, Solomon is not angry at young people who pursue pleasure. But he is giving this advice coming from someone who has been at that stage of youthful life where all one can think about is how to attain pleasure–and live to regret about it.
Think about it. Today’s youth is either overly distracted (texting or computers) or extremely isolated (Facebooking). Solomon is telling the youth to experience youthfulness but being careful as to what activity they should indulge in. What they need to be involved with should be highly pleasing to God.
Even how we treat our body is given emphasis. Solomon wants our youth to grow old healthy. Our youth should maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is being joked all around that one can eat whatever he wants because one is still young. This is very far from the truth.
A lot of people now in their 40s are regretting how they did not eat the right kind of diet or exercised. We are now overly conscious about our blood pressure, sugar intake, cholesterol, uric acid, etc. I did not think about it when I was young. Its different today. Information accessibility is ubiquitous. Anywhere you turn, information is readily available. The internet made this possible.
If you are reading this and you are young, listen intently to Solomon’s words, “…refuse to worry and keep your body healthy.” These are words coming from the wisest person on earth. He went on to end the chapter with a warning that youth is meaningless compared to the life you will live when you grow old.
To the youth of today, do not waste your life on the nonsensical pursuit of pleasure. You can enjoy life without over indulging. Will you enjoy your youth if you are pregnant or in a drug rehab center? No you won’t. Get ready for a better life, the life you will live as you grow old.
