Daily Devotions
Ecclesiastes
"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth"
Text: Ecclesiastes 12:1
A WORD TO THE YOUNG
Solomon was conscious of how age can affect people adversely. In the first part of Ecclesiastes, he devoted attention to describe old age cryptically. In contrast to old age, there is Youth!
“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
‘I have no pleasure in them.'”
Ecclesiastes 12:1
1. “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth”
a) The Creator should be remembered:
i) By everyone.
ii) The old and the young.
b) The spiritual part of life among Youths.
i) This is often missing, sadly.
ii) The ability to comprehend God and to include Him in life seems very difficult for the younger generation.
c) The idea of “remembering” God.
i) To recall the lessons about God that were taught.
ii) To apply these lessons in life.
iii) To walk wisely in righteousness.
iv) To serve the Lord.
2. “Before the difficult days come”
a) “Difficult days”
i) In general, this phrase can refer to tough times in life.
ii) In this context, the reference is simply to “old age”.
b) And old age will come to everyone.
c) Life does not get easier when one grows old.
d) Old age may indeed be called “difficult days”.
3. “And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them'”
a) Children take pleasure in almost everything:
i) Food
ii) Toys
iii) Pleasure is found easily.
b) Youth also find pleasure fairly easily.
i) Friends
ii) Fun
iii) Family
c) Old age has its own set of challenges.
i) The years draw near when this saying becomes commonplace,
“I have no pleasure in them”.
ii) This describes a tired or jaded spirit.
iii) Few things bring pleasure.
iv) The things of the past that used to bring pleasure no longer do that.
4. The loss of interest can be very real and distressing
a) Little interest in food.
b) No real pleasure in friends.
c) Limited joy in family.
d) There is a sense of lethargy that makes life seem almost worthless!