Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"..
Chapman in his book on “Love Languages” identifies five ways we express love to another. He claims people have a love language that speaks to them more clearly than other ways. How you express your love may not have the same effect on the receiver because of a different love language. The concept of the book is that people give and receive love messages in different ways.
I switched his words around to make it into a devotional. Five ways to express love include: Telling, Touching, Togetherness, Tasks, and Treasures.
Some people appreciate being told they are loved by words, by notes, by outward expressions. Some prefer touch like hand holding, hugging, snuggling, kissing, back-rubs. Others find just doing things together makes them feel close, whether it is going for a walk, reading a book, or going out to eat. The fourth way to express love is by doing tasks s.a. helping clean the house. Doing something for another is important for some. A husband might know his wife loves him by the fact that she makes him a special dinner. She might appreciate his filling her car up with gas. Lastly, gift giving is a way some express love. Roses, cologne, a special apparel, or a surprise trip might be treasures that have great meaning to another.
The goal of a relationship, according to Chapman, is finding your loved one’s love language and use it often. What they respond to best, may not be your priority of communicating love. All of them are important, but some are favored.
As Solomon concluded his thoughts from this sermon all of life seems meaningless. There is one purpose and that is to remember your Creator.
Solomon was older now and had realized he had not given God the priority He deserved. Certainly, we can come to Him and serve Him at any time in life, but this message was meant for the young, not for the elderly.
Give of your best to your master. Too many are diluted into thinking they will come to Christ when they are old and their life is almost gone. We never know at what age we are going to die. One reason older people might be more religious is they have seen life and found it to be empty without the Lord. If they realized that sooner they would not have wasted most of their lives in meaningless pursuits. That is Solomon’s message.
Application: This week think of different ways to use love language toward God through telling (praying), tasks (service), togetherness (devotions reading and enjoying His presence), treasures (gift giving), and touching (giving that cup of cold water in Jesus’ name/social concerns for others).
Prayer: I love this push to apply this message above using the 5 T’s from a spiritual aspect. Show me what gift I need to give and who I need to touch with the cup of cold water in Jesus name.
