I can think back of when I was young and how I wasted my life away doing silly things and thinking life was one big party. I can only imagine how much worse it would be if I was given the job of ruling a country. It is rare to see maturity in young people and our reading this week hints at this as a young ruler is tempted to party not just in the evening but in the morning as well. Life is one big party for some people, especially when young, and it is even more tempting when all the resources are there to party. We often associate youth with binge drinking because that is a fact with some of our young people today. They mean no harm and in many ways are simply following their parents and peers and society as we associate alcohol and drunkenness with success and enjoying life.

The problem begins though when we don’t know when to stop. When you can’t go to work because you have partied too long, you know you have crossed the boundary to foolishness and loss. Going too far can take the form of a joke too when we begin with something we think is funny and then someone ends up getting hurt.  

While there is a time to party and celebrate, it is clear as a leader, a parent, and as an example to others, we need to show discretion and balance in life because others are watching and using us as an example.

Along with partying too much also comes laziness. The example used in our reading is of an owner of a house who never does his work properly or gets around to doing any of the repairs to his house when needed. The end result is a shoddy job and most often that ends up in a crash at some stage that he is not prepared for.

This section of the book of Ecclesiastes contains a range of sayings and situations that provide wisdom to those who are open to learn. Life is an education where we never stop learning. Our author has repeated a number of times that there is a time for everything and the wise is able to keep a good balance of all the parts of our life.

The last lesson mentioned in our reading has to do with gossip, of speaking about others and what they may or may not have done before speaking to the person themselves. This is a good test of our character. If we have something to say about someone else, the best place to start is with the person or not say anything at all. If only people could follow this wise advice, our relationships and life would be so much better.

Prayer, Lord God, help me to encourage young people today to find their full potential in a balanced life and to help them avoid going too far on a good thing. Amen.