Most of us have heard the words, “carpe diem.” This is “a phrase used by the Roman poet Horace to express the idea that one should enjoy life while one can.
Carpe diem is part of Horace’s injunction “carpe diem quam minimum credula postero,” which appears in his Odes (I.11), published in 23 bce. It can be translated literally as “pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the next one.” The phrase carpe diem has come to stand for Horace’s entire injunction, and it is more widely known as “seize the day.” Carpe diem | Origin, Meaning, Uses, Examples, & Facts | Britannica
In many ways, this was not a new idea that Horace created. Even our friend, Qoheleth expressed similar thoughts almost 1000 years before Horace. He says:
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.
As he writes, Qoheleth is addressing young people. He was young once, but now he is old and from his own life experiences and the wisdom and knowledge he has gained over the years, he offered some simple advice. It has two main points:
- Enjoy the years of your youth, while you have the gift of health, energy and opportunity.
- But, in the midst of this, remember God, and live in the light of His presence and His plans for your life.
I was recently talking to a friend, and we were musing over why some of our acquaintances and family over the years have followed Jesus faithfully, while others, having the very same upbringing and teaching, have gone their own way, forgetting all they had learnt.
His thoughts, particularly concerning one of his siblings who moved away from a relationship with God, was that they came to a place where they needed to make a decision. That decision involved following Jesus in obedient trust, no matter what He planned for them, or going their own way, keeping some sort of control over the things they planned to do with their life. Sadly, that particular person chose the latter, and so has gone in a very different direction to their sibling who chose to follow Jesus.
Now there may be many other reasons why a person who knows better will choose to go their own way, but the result is the same, eventually. As Qoheleth reminds us:
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.
As Pawson says:
Qoheleth “looks back upon his life and concludes that the best days of his life were his youth. He pleads with young people to make the most of them. He doesn’t present them as an old man with a long list of “don’t”s. He presents them with some very positive “do”s. He points out that God has placed you in a fascinating world full of possibility, and these possibilities are to be explored and enjoyed, so do what you want to do. Surprising advice! Normally, young people look upon older people as those who say, “Don’t do what you want to do.” Here is an old man saying: do what you want to do; explore that experience; enjoy all of life’s possibilities. You are young; you are fit. Youth is not a time to be full of cares; it is a time to be carefree – so avoid pain if you can; avoid worry if you can. It is not the time for income tax and rheumatism. It is the time to explore and enjoy. Here is a profound affirmation of life from this old man to young people, starting very positively…
His message means: young people, you will only be young once and you will only be young for a short time and it will go quickly; so do what you want to do, explore life’s possibilities, but remember God – don’t just seek to get the most out of your youth but seek to put the Maker into it. Now that is what puts the advice right. Of course, this is the one piece of advice that is so necessary because the easiest time of life to forget God is in your youth…
So remember your Creator and remember too that he is not only the Creator but he is the Judge. If you remember those two things and keep those in mind then make the most of your young years – that is very positive and sound advice. Remember that God is your Creator. That means the life that you are living is not yours, it is his, it belongs to the Maker. Remember, too, that he issued you with a Maker’s handbook on how to get the best out of it– the Bible.” (# 61)
Qoheleth then begins the last chapter of his book with the words:
[so] Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come…
Having been a follower of Jesus now for 56 years, I can highly recommend taking Qoheleth’s advice!
