The Word of God says, “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.”– Ecc. 12:1

The world says, “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die”. People tell us that we should do all the things on our “bucket list” before we kick the bucket. In other words, get as much pleasure out of life as you can before you can’t. But the Bible doesn’t support that view. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). It ought to be the same for all of us. No where do you find that we have been assigned the right to make the pursuit of pleasure the top priority in our life. We have better things to do!

The following article, I found saved in my drafts, puts this matter in the proper perspective: “It is inevitable, young person, that you will eventually come to a time—perhaps even years—when you are not even able to enjoy the pleasures of this life anymore. As  unthinkable as it may seem right now, you will not always be strong, free of pain, able to eat anything you want (that day is actually coming soon!), or even perhaps able to get out of bed. 

Why does Solomon remind us of this fact? Is he just trying to burst our bubble or make us depressed? No. He is writing this admonition so that  we will begin now to pour our hearts and lives into pleasures that even old age cannot take away.

Remember now your Creator! Don’t wait until every distraction  is taken away from you and God is the only person left to talk to. Serve Him now, even in the middle of a thousand immediate pleasures that may  be tempting you away from Him. Because even now He is greater than any of these pleasures.

The truth is that, in your Creator, there are “pleasures for evermore”  (Psalm 16:11). He is not reprimanding us for enjoying the earthly  pleasures of eating, music, painlessness, or sunsets — your Creator is  the one who made these things also. But He is warning us against seeking these niceties as an end in themselves, while we are still able to  enjoy them, and forgetting about the greater pleasures that never go  away or diminish. In the presence of God is fullness of joy. Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied with anything less than full joy.”

As a young preacher living in Springfield, Mo.I had the privilege of becoming acquainted with several older and famous preachers. And I was in awe of them. When they spoke of their “good old days” and related their experiences I was thrilled, but also frustrated in a sense. I realized that their experiences were beyond my reach. Then one day I realized that I had something they didn’t have, nor would ever have. I had youth, strength, and boundless energy. Now, in the sense of age, I am where they were and some of you have what I had. You are young, strong, and have a great opportunity–please don’t waste it! “Remember now thy Creator”. –HDS

“Let your conversation be without  covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he  hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. “–Hebrews 13:5
When it comes to contentment most of us fail more than we would like to admit. About the time we think we’ve got it something happens to remind us that we don’t. The following story is an example of what I’m talking about.

 A mother was watching her young son play at the beach one day. All of a sudden, a huge wave appeared and crashed down over the boy. The water  receded, and the boy was gone.

Holding her hands to the sky, she cried, “God how could you? I’m a  wonderful mother. And I’ve tried to live a good life. Why would you take my son away from me?”

 A few minutes later another huge wave appeared out of nowhere and  crashed on the beach. As the water receded, the boy stood there,  smiling, splashing around as if nothing had ever happened. A loud voice  boomed from the sky, “Okay, okay, I have returned your son. Are you  satisfied?”

 She responded, “No, I’m not. Where’s the hat he was wearing?”

 It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing God’s blessings and provision as less than enough. If we have food, a roof over our heads, and a bed  to sleep in, we’re richer than most of the people who’ve ever lived.

Don’t let greed gain a stronghold in your life. Be content with God’s  provision and trust Him to continue meeting your every need.

Pray that God would give you contentment with the blessings He’s provided for you.

As humorous as this story is, this is a very serious matter. A covetous spirit is an awful sin and terrible problem.-HDS