MAR 23

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
Memorise Ecclesiastes 11:9
"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth"

ARE YOU MINDFUL OF YOUR YOUTH?

The young man here is exhorted to rejoice, and to experience the joys that life has to offer. He is to follow the desires of his heart and eyes. However, in the midst of all that, he must continue to be very careful that the desires that he has must be in line with what God wants. It does not speak of the carnal desires of the heart, but rather the desires of a sanctified heart that is aware of God’s judgement. Thus the ‘ways of thine heart’ that we are to walk in, must be a walk that is aright with God, for all that we do in this life must be accounted for some day. Solomon reminds us that we will all have to stand before the throne of God in judgment. This therefore gives us the boundaries in which we can enjoy our lives. He exhorts us all to put aside sorrow (grief and anger) from our heart, and evil from our flesh, to not waste our youth in these vain things, but to enjoy all things as unto the Lord.

One’s youth can be a great time of blessing, but can also be a time of foolishness and vanity. If our life is lived for the Lord, there is a great cause for rejoicing. With energy, time and youthful exuberance on our side there are really many things that we can do for the Lord. There aren’t that many responsibilities to bog us down, and not many obligations that take up our time. If you set your mind to it, you realize that the list of things that you can do in service for the Lord is endless! However, if you persist on just living for self, indulging in the pleasures of this life, then that is vanity, vexation of the spirit, and time spend in darkness. It would be a wasted life, one not rejoicing in the things of God, but in the things of the world. This is a life that brings only grief and sorrow to our Lord. We must therefore choose the way of the wise men, to trust in the Lord, and live our lives fully for him.

Thought: What is the cause for my rejoicings every day? Is it Christ? Or is it sin?
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the youth that Thou has blessed me with. But in the midst of my youth, help me to enjoy it within only in the way that You want me to.