"Don't Make it Meaningless"

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1 (New Living Translation)

9 Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. 1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

I read this verse on Friday with my grouping sisters and was so convicted to share it.

Looking back on the last year, when were the hopeless times? When were the times you felt down, depressed or wortheless? Did you spend time seeking answers eventually to find that you didn't have any? Well, it seems to me that in his old age, Solomon had the answer. A life without God produces nothing but lonliness and bitterness, but a life centered around God is fulfilling and satisfying because of the hope!

Remember Peter, walking on the water? As long as he was looking ahead and his eyes were focused on Jesus he was fine. But the second he looked down, taking his eyes off Jesus he fell into the water. Where are you in your walk? Have you fallen into the water?

Being young is exciting! But the excitement of youth can become a barrier to closeness with God if it makes you focus on the things of the world which are really just passing pleasures. That car you have now that makes you happy...you won't have it forever. Eventually something will happen and you'll need to replace it. What about that 'mega-do-everything' gadget you think you have to have? It will be replaced with a better model in a couple of months. The only one true thing you can count on in life is God our Creator. He is unchanging and everlasting.

This scripture says that it does matter what we do. We all like to say, "it doesn't matter." But many of our choices are irreversible. They will stay with you for a lifetime. There are so many things I still remember from my youth that I wish I hadn't done. Those images and/or actions are forever engrained in my brain. Some people have used the example of seeing a pornographic image. Once you see one, it's engrained. You will never forget that image which is why we try to stay away.

What you do when you're young DOES matter!

Enjoy your life now, while you are young, but don't do anything that will prevent you from enjoying your life when you're older. Don't waste your time on meaningless things! The only thing that will fix your depression, your anger and your hopelessness is finding hope and strength in the Lord.

Seek God NOW!