Don't waste these years

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; - Ecclesiastes 12v1

I often preach a message from this passage when I speak to youth groups or school chapels. I always love those opportunities because I love being with young people. It only makes sense as I am still a young guy myself.

Yesterday we saw the advice that young people should enjoy their youth, while remembering that God is still watching over them. It was clear that youth cannot be seen as a excuse for sin. .

Today in chapter 12 the advice is more positive. ‘Remember God while you are young, before evil really sets in, before the years roll by and you realise they didn’t satisfy like you thought they would’

There is a temptation in youth, even among some Christian youth, to think something like ‘I’ll get serious about God when I get a little older. Let me get through this then I will settle down and serve God. I’ll just have a little ‘fun’ first.’

The sad thing is that youth is one of our best opportunities to serve God. We are fresh, excited, and full of energy. The tragedy is that too many young people use that freshness, excitement, and energy on vain pursuits instead of what really counts for eternity.

Sadly, we don’t realise until it is over. When Christians do get serious about God they often say, ‘Why did I waste all those years?’

The advice is aimed at young people, but applicable to us all – don’t wait to serve God. Serve Him today; don’t waste the years on vain pursuits. There is an old saying that fits in a Christian context which really sums up the start of Ecclesiastes – ‘The problem with youth is that it is wasted on the young.’