Ecclesiastes 11:9

DISCOURSE: 845
YOUTH WARNED OF THE FUTURE JUDGMENT

Ecclesiastes 11:9. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee into judgment.

EARTHLY pleasure is doubtless gratifying to flesh and blood: hence it is more or less an object of desire to all: but there are two considerations which may well abate our ardour in the pursuit, namely, that its gratifications will soon come to an end; and that there is an approaching judgment, at which we must give an account of all that we have ever done in the body, and receive from God’s mouth a sentence corresponding with the tenour of our past life. In the verses preceding our text, the former consideration is urged; and we are told, that, however protracted our pleasures may be, they are but like a winter’s sun, which will soon set in darkness, and be followed by a long and dreary night. Such a night is not far off, even from those who are in the very morning of life. It may be hastened prematurely, as it were, by sickness, and care, and unavoidable misfortunes; and it must come at last through the infirmities of age, which, if our life be prolonged, will make it but “labour and sorrow.” The latter consideration is suggested in the text, which contains two things:

I. A keen remonstrance.

The address here made to youth, though it appears like a concession, is not really so—
[It has been thought by some to be a concession, recommending youth to enjoy themselves in the world; only to do it in such a way as not to endanger their happiness in a future life. And it is certain that there are in this book many concessions to that effect [Note: Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 5:18.] — — — Such passages as these may indeed be easily pressed too far: but, on the other hand, they are not in general understood by the religious world. Religious people are apt to imagine, that Christianity requires an utter abandonment of those things which the carnal mind affects; and that a pious person who possesses any considerable measure of earthly comforts, is necessarily inconsistent in his conduct. But this is a mistake, and a mistake which greatly needs to be rectified; because it occasions many unjust censures, and uncharitable reflections. “God has given us all things richly to enjoy [Note: 1 Timothy 6:17.]:” and, provided we do not spend an undue portion of our substance on earthly indulgences, or set our affections upon them, there is nothing in Christianity which prohibits a reasonable use, and a temperate enjoyment of them. If only we sit loose to them in our hearts, and enjoy God in them, they are perfectly lawful; yea, “they are sanctified to us by the word of God and prayer [Note: 1 Timothy 4:4.].”

But it is not in this sense that the address before us is to be understood:]
It is, on the contrary, a just and severe remonstrance—
[The terms here used are such as cannot well be taken in a good sense. To “walk in the ways of our own heart, and in the sight of our own eyes,” is equivalent to walking in the ways of criminal self-indulgence. This is the import of these expressions in other passages of Scripture [Note: Numbers 15:39; Deuteronomy 29:19.] — — — and so they must be taken here; as is evident from the awful judgments with which such indulgences are menaced in out text. The text is, in fact, an ironical remonstrance, similar to that which Elijah uttered, when he condemned the worshippers of Baal; “Cry aloud; for he is a God [Note: 1 Kings 18:27.]:” and that by which Micaiah reproved the impolicy of Ahab; “Go up to Ramoth-Gilead, and prosper [Note: 1 Kings 22:15.].” By this kind of irony Solomon intended to convey an idea, that young men are bent on such indulgences; that they promise themselves security in the midst of them; and that they will not be prevailed on by more temperate re-proof: and, in this view, his words may be thus paraphrased: ‘You will, notwithstanding all that I can say to dissuade you from it, go on in the ways of sin, persuading yourselves that nothing but happiness awaits you: and therefore go on; and follow the bent of your own inclinations: but know, that in the end you will find yourselves grievously disappointed.’ Severe as such a remonstrance is, it is perfectly just: for, who that considers what the great end of our being is, can doubt the wickedness of living to the world and to the flesh? or who that sees how contrary such conduct is to that of Christ and his apostles, can doubt what the issue of such a life shall be? Verily, “if we mind earthly things, we are enemies to the cross of Christ, and our end will be destruction [Note: Philippians 3:18.];” for, whatever may be said or thought to the contrary, “to be carnally-minded is death [Note: Romans 8:6.].”]

To this is annexed,

II.

A solemn warning—

There is a day of judgment fast approaching—
[God will most assuredly “judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, even by his Son, Jesus Christ.” Before his tribunal we must all appear: the young, as well as the old, shall then give up their account to him; and the things which we did in the earlier part of life shall be brought forth for judgment, as well as those which were done at a more advanced age. The book of God’s remembrance shall be opened; and every thing that was recorded in it, from the first moment of our existence to the latest breath we drew, shall be adduced as illustrative of our true character, and as the ground of God’s final sentence.]
Then shall the things which are now done receive their proper reward—
[The judgment of God will not then be regulated by our views, but by his own unerring wisdom. We may palliate a life of vanity and worldliness now; but he will view it as indeed it is, as a life of rebellion against him. It argues a total alienation of heart from him: it shews that we lived to please ourselves rather than him, and that we were in reality a god unto ourselves. He had told us plainly, “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:” but we would not believe it. He had told us, that “the broad road, in which the many are walking, leadeth to destruction; and that the narrow way alone leadeth unto life:” but we would not be persuaded that such an awful declaration should ever be verified. Nevertheless so it will be found in the last day: and of this we may be perfectly assured: for it stands on the word of God, which is as immutable as God himself: “Know thou, that for all these things God will call thee into judgment.”]

Address—
1.

Those who seek their happiness in earthly things—

[Say not, You commit no gross sin, and therefore have no cause to fear. The question simply is, Do you walk after the way of your own heart? If you do, it matters little what path you choose, whether it be that of open, or secret sin: you are equally living without God in the world, and are equally obnoxious to his heavy displeasure. I mean not by this to say, that all sins are alike, or that gross immoralities will not augment your guilt and condemnation in the last day. But this is an undoubted truth, that he only who gives up himself to God in this world, can ever dwell with him in the world to come: for “if we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption: and it is only from sowing to the Spirit, that we can hope to reap life everlasting.” Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we would persuade you, whilst yet we may avert from you the impending storm: we would persuade thee in particular, O young man, that thou mayest not any longer deceive thy soul, and dream of happiness in another world, when thou art only “treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath.”]

2. Those who are seeking happiness in the ways of God—

[Say whether thou hast not found more solid joy in the ways of God, than ever thou foundest in the vanities of the world? Say whether thou hast not found it better to “mortify thy members upon earth,” than to indulge them; and to live to God, rather than to live unto thyself? The joy thou now hast is legitimate: it is such as prophets and apostles had before thee; and such as God has freely conceded to thee, to the utmost extent of all thy wishes: “Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.” Indeed thy present joys are the gift of God to thy soul. Go on then “rejoicing in the Lord always:” yea, rejoice, if so it may be, “with a joy that is unspeakable and glorified.” These joys will never make the future judgment formidable; on the contrary, they will help to prepare thee for it, inasmuch as they are themselves an earnest of thine everlasting inheritance.]