Don’t we yearn to enjoy life? To have our purpose figured out? To see years of wisdom guide us into all happiness? If we were to interview the ideas in our culture about happiness -- what do you think it would say? How would those ideas respond to questions like “what are supposed to be the best years of our lives?” “When should we have the most fun and the most freedom?” Well based on several recent Billboard chart-topping hits -- the answer would be high school -- or at least “while we’re young.”
The #5 song in America right now is “Die Young” by K$ha, and the #31 song (which went as high as #3 just a short while ago), “Live While We’re Young” is by One Direction. Both of these songs embrace the idea of doing as much as you can while you are young because that not only is it the best time to live, but we are not guaranteed tomorrow -- so let’s pursue as much pleasure as we can today! (remember the major hit last year that proclaimed: Give me everything tonight because we might not have tomorrow, this is just another repackaging of the same old idea...)
Look at some of the lyrics from these two current hits:
I hear your heart beat to the beat of the drums
Oh what a shame that you came here with someone
So while you're here in my arms
Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young
We're gonna die young
We're gonna die young
Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young
Let’s go crazy, crazy, crazy ’til we see the sun
I know we only met but let’s pretend it’s love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let’s get some and live while we’re young
(For more examples of these types of songs see our previous post: “Wild, Young, & Free”)
But here’s the problem -- most of us will have tomorrow. And if we live according to these new anthems, we will find ourselves waking up into a world of regret and meaninglessness. Ke$ha, One Direction, Snoop Dog, and Pit Bull are right -- we may not have tomorrow, even the Bible agrees with the uncertainty of tomorrow (Proverbs 27 and James 4):
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."
"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow..."
It’s the culture's application of this Biblical truth that is faulty. We may not have tomorrow, yes, true statement -- but that does not justify breaking all boundaries and common sense to pursue pleasure at all costs. (Remember the story of the Prodigal son? How did living for pleasure work out for him? He could have probably justified his lifestyle with the same lyrics we are talking about today!) Just because tomorrow is not guaranteed, doesn’t mean we should have sex with strangers, drink until we fall down, and spend money carelessly, because if we do there’s a good chance we will find the sunrise to be a nightmare. Not because it is any less beautiful, but because it brings with it regret and consequences.
We need the older, wiser, more mature generations to start being the role models. We need grandparents, parents, mentors, and leaders to step in and say enough is enough and challenge the next generation to --
“Give up the endless and unrestrained pursuit of pleasure because it will leave you empty, full of regrets, and unable to find anything pleasurable. Instead, accept the fact that your vitality and the beauty of your youth should be enjoyed not abused. It should not be wasted and it should not be the best years of your life, it should be the stepping stone to a more fulfilled and beautiful future.”
But it’s not enough for the experienced generations to only teach, challenge, and encourage the next generation. We need experienced generations to walk through life with teenagers and show them the better life. Show the next generation what it means to make the most out of their teen years. And they will follow! If you, as grandparents, parents, mentors, and leaders will disciple the next generation, they will follow you to Jesus -- and his purpose for their lives.
The responsibility begins with the experienced generations putting aside their own extraneous pursuits, and discipling the next generation. The responsibility ends with the next generation waking-up and accepting the wisdom of those who know what they are talking about.
Do good parents always equal good kids? Unfortunately, no! But if we as parents do our part and disciple our children, there is a good chance that we could save the next generation and change our culture a long the way!
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