Words of Wisdom for Graduates

Solomon concludes the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes with his observations about life; and in his closing remarks in chapter twelve, we find four words of wisdom that can be applied to the common life-experiences of high school graduates.

“Make Sure You Know God While You Are Young”

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” (12:1).

The first word of wisdom is to make sure that you know God while you are still young. In his book Generation Next, George Barna says, “About three-quarters of all people who have consciously, intentionally and personally chosen to embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior did so before their eighteenth birthday.”

It’s important that you come to know the Lord before you encounter the difficulties of life. Without Jesus by your side, you can easily drown in a sea of hardship. Granted, you may have already endured some challenges; but the truth is that life only gets harder, not easier. However, if you take the Lord with you, then you can better endure what lies ahead.

“Make Sure You Still Know Him When You Are Old”

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (12:6-7).

The second word of wisdom is to make sure that you still know the Lord, or have maintained your relationship with Him, even when you are old. As you get out on your own and experience the freedom of making your own decisions, you will be presented with many different life-philosophies that run contrary to the Bible. You will be tempted to choose another path than the one that God has laid out for you.

Just remember what Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Be certain that you continue to walk “the straight and narrow” all the days of your life.

“The Most Beneficial Scholarship is from the Lord”

The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright-words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd (12:10-11).

The third word of wisdom is that the most beneficial scholarship is from the Lord. If you plan on attending college, then beware of the assault on the Christian faith. Arthur Serratelli tells about a class exercise that took place at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton in a course called “Intercultural Communications”:

The professor asked the students to write Jesus’ name in big letters on a paper, place the paper on the ground and then stomp on the name of Jesus. Ryan Rotela, a junior, refused. Ryan was polite and sincere. He calmly disagreed with the professor’s request and refused to do the exercise. He paid the consequences for his refusal - suspension. A university supervisor told him not to return to that class.

In college you will encounter a lot of self-proclaimed “scholars” whose primary goal is to refute the Christian faith, claiming they know better; but keep in mind that true scholarship is contained in the Bible by the words of the one true Shepherd and Teacher. Also, don’t forget to stand up for your faith.

“The Most Meaningful Pursuit in This Life is God”

And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all (12:12-13).

The fourth and final word of wisdom is that the most meaningful pursuit in life is God. Upon graduation it’s exciting to get out and pursue your options for the future and your career. It’s also necessary for your financial security and well-being; for without the security of a good job, you will be in no position to influence the world for Christ. However, you need to make sure that your career choice is not the end, but a means to an end; the end being to bring glory to the Lord.

Your job should never become your sole reason for existence; and your career preparation should never distract you from growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Be careful to balance your college study and Bible study; and always keep in mind that the most important pursuit above your career is God. Jobs come and go, but your relationship with Jesus is everlasting.

When the Programs Are Stripped Away

In Amos 5:21-24, the Lord expressed how He wanted to see His people practicing true justice and righteousness, rather than going through half-hearted motions of worship. Churches can all too often fall into meaningless worship routines, and the reason why is because they get bogged down in tradition and consumed with meaningless busy-work. Allow me to explain further.

Believers can get so focused on what’s happening in the existing membership and within the church walls, that they become blinded to what’s happening on the outside; and thereby, fall short in carrying out the Great Commission. They can also become so task-oriented that they fail to become God-oriented; and can often grow more concerned about “busy-ness” than true kingdom “business.”

This observation has left me with a question in the back of mind, which is this: “Would we even know how to worship God and do what He expects of us, if all our traditions, music and programs were completely stripped away?” In the praise song “The Heart of Worship,” worship leader Matt Redman expressed this same concern, sharing the following words:

When the music fades, all is stripped away; and I simply come. Longing just to bring, something that’s of worth; that will bless Your heart. I’ll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself; is not what You have required. You search much deeper within, through the way things appear; You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You; it’s all about You, Jesus. I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it, when it’s all about You; it’s all about You, Jesus.

Matt Redman was leading worship at his church called Soul Survivor, which is located in England, whenever he wrote the lyrics to “The Heart of Worship.” Joel Harris shares the story concerning how this well-loved song came to be:

Over the course of several years, Soul Survivor’s worship had made a lot of headway . . . [but] the spark was gone, and the people were going through the motions without really giving their hearts in worship. Eventually they realized that they had become spectators of the worship service, simply an audience, grading it with scores out of ten. They had forgotten the fact that they were all supposed to be performers, performing for an Audience of One.

They had lost sight of the truth that biblical worship involves sacrifice. All of us are called in God’s Word to bring sacrifices in worship, called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices – our spiritual act of worship, and to offer up sacrifices of praise.

Mike [Pilavachi, the pastor], realized something drastic needed to happen. The church needed to be brought back to the place where each person was bringing their own contribution to the worship, not simply to watch the band. They needed to come back to understanding that worship is all about God, not about what we get out of it, or what our personal musical tastes are. So the pastor “Banned the band, and sacked Redman!”

They sat in circles and waited for someone to bring their own sacrifice of praise. At the start, no one did, and they sat in virtual silence! They had to learn not to rely on music, but eventually it began to happen. They had sweet times of worship, as people brought prayers, readings, prophecies, praises and songs. The excitement and passion returned, for they were no longer having church, they were meeting with God.

Having learned their lesson, they brought the band back, and Matt Redman sang the song that he had written out of the experience.

Now, getting back to the plight of Israel; in Isaiah 58:2-3a, the people claimed they wanted to know God and do His will. The Lord stated, “They seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways . . . They take delight in approaching God. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’” The Lord’s response reveals that their worship and declarations of praise and allegiance to God could not be backed up through deed. Listen closely, as I share the Lord’s reply in Isaiah 58:3b-10:

In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness. If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.

The true fast that God has chosen; or rather, the true worship and actions that God expects us to demonstrate, have nothing to do with coming to church on Sunday and evaluating the performance, or doing a certain style of music and number of songs, or offering a specific amount of programs, or even visiting a set number of church members in their homes.

The true fast and worship that God has chosen involves doing the things that really matter in meeting the needs of the community. When we look out beyond ourselves and our own preferences to share the love of Jesus Christ outside the church walls; then we begin doing things that make an eternal difference, and we begin doing what really pleases the Lord. We also enter a place where ministry becomes something fulfilling and meaningful.