Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
“I LOVE GOD, I LOVE GOD, I LOVE GOD,” my three-year-old grandson loudly sang as I pushed him on his backyard swing. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, I belted out right along with him. And for the next few minutes, we heartedly shouted our praises to the Lord. His declaration seemed to have come out of nowhere, and when I told his parents, they were dumbfounded. It turned out to be another “first” from their precocious little guy.
In my mind, a “first” we should never underestimate.
In a world marked by record numbers of mental disorders, depression and anxiety in young people, it’s clear the foundation is crumbling beneath the feet of many children. Researcher George Barna reports that “a child’s worldview is mostly developed by the age of 13,” signifying the crucial role parents play in developing their children’s “core beliefs, morals and values.” If parents fail to build a strong foundation based on biblical truth, kids will turn to other sources. Sources like social media, Hollywood, peers. I shudder to think.
When I was young, autograph books were all the rage. I still remember what Grandpa Creech wrote in mine. “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth….” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Of course, I didn’t have much understanding of the passage at that time, but that didn’t deter my grandpa from faithfully imparting to me the foundation of scripture. Did you catch that? I still remember.
Solomon warned about the importance of building a firm foundation while young. He said to remember the things you learn about God. Remember before life in a fallen world entices you toward immorality and tries to crush your spirit.
Interestingly, after decrying the meaningless of wisdom, wealth and worldly achievement, Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes with a return to the foundation. “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (v.13).
So whether you are a parent, grandparent, or mentor in a child’s life, I hope you are contributing to their foundation. A foundation that will prompt them to declare throughout their life, “I LOVE GOD.”