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I'm sure most of us have heard
the contemporary acronym, YOLO, a time or two in our lives. It's letters
stand for, "You Only Live Once," and is often used as an encouragement
to you adults to live for the day, carefree and without concern for consequence.
Interestingly enough, King Solomon (the author of the passage above) seems
to offer the same encouragement to the young adults of his day. His advice
to them seems to be, "Go for it! Whatever pleases you, just do it!"
However, unlike the common usage of the term "YOLO" by our friends
and colleagues today, Solomon's exhortation comes with a warning. Speaking
with certainty he writes,
"Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things."
The thought that man can live however he pleases, without consequence
or repercussion is a figment of our imagination. Much like Newton's third
law -- for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction -- the
consequence of young adults living for worldly pleasures during their
childhood is vexation and pain later on in adulthood.
Although Solomon's warning is made specifically to the young men of his
day, it has spiritual application for each and everyone of us today. We
can choose to live however we please during the fleeting time that we
have on this earth. Our lives can be filled with all the passing pleasures
of this life, following the impulses of our heart and the desires of our
eyes. Yet know for certain that God will bring us under judgment for all
these things.
Alternatively, we can be those who press on to maturity, forsaking our
own ways and seeking to know and follow God's ways. The outcome of which
we will be a firm foundation for the future, not only in this life but
in the age to come.
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