When Pittsburgh Steelers, Craig Wolfley and Tunch Ilkin stood in the tunnel ready to run onto the field before a game, Craig would look at Tunch and say, “Ten feet tall and bulletproof, baby!” Such was the feeling of the young men as they psyched themselves up for each brutal contest. When Tunch would tell that story, he would always add, “We are not as bulletproof as we think we are.” 

Solomon’s advice for young men was to live big and enjoy life. 

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Solomon experienced the energy and vigor of youth and wanted others to do the same. His counsel for young men was to enjoy life and pursue dreams and desires. But Solomon warns that enjoying life is not without boundaries and accountability. Everything a person does will one day be evaluated by the Judge (see also Eccl. 12:14).

We often hear statements like, “When I was young and foolish,” “young people make a lot of mistakes,” and “I did some foolish things when I was immature.” It is true that wisdom and discernment develop by experience and maturity. And it is also true that right is right and wrong is wrong. 

Youth does not make us ten feet tall and bulletproof from foolishness. Sex outside of marriage is not immaturity; it’s sin. Living together before marriage is not a convenient arrangement; it is sin. Leaving God out of life’s major decisions cannot be brushed off as youthful neglect. The consequences last a lifetime. 

Parents, we need to come to grips with this as we raise our children. We cannot laughingly say “boys will be boys” and “girls will be girls” as we shrug off our children’s unhealthy decisions. We need to help mold their hearts early on. We are the parents! We need to withhold dangerous things and encourage health endeavors. We are the parents!  We need to model what following hard after God looks like. We are the parents! Enjoy your youth, Solomon says, but never forget that God will bring into judgment even the actions of your formative years. That’s a solemn reminder, isn’t it? 

Father, I pray that parents hearing this today will act like parents. We need your wisdom to guide our children by our words and actions. Please don’t let our children squander their youth on under-the-sun endeavors that bring about lasting consequences. Help us be godly parents for our kids’ benefit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.