My Advice to Graduates

In honor of the season, I wish to offer a few choice thoughts on behalf of those who have at some level achieved academic notoriety in earning a degree. For all the times your parent stayed up late helping you finish an assignment that you should have finished a week before, offer a prayer for their blessing.

For all the friends you made while you pursued these years of academic advancement, remember them as you continue aiming toward future goals and remember that friends are not a dime a dozen. Make the effort to keep in touch. It will always bring benefits. Everyone needs friends. And remember as the old song reminds…”you have a friend in Jesus.”

For many young graduates, this is the time in life to “sow wild oats” or in some other way to suggest “going out and making a real mess out of life.” People make mistakes, but before you go out and make a bunch of them on purpose, stop and consider the fact that no matter how many times you think “you are only hurting yourself” you are also hurting every person who loves you, cares about you, and who has invested in your life in positive ways. Sit down with the book of Proverbs and read it slowly…thoughtfully, underlining things you recognize as helpful to remember. It may save you, and people who love you, a lifetime of heartache.

Many people decide graduation is a good time to walk away from church. You will find a crowd of folks who have adopted this profile. And what you go to is what you get. You will find many who don’t prioritize a relationship to Christ, a lifestyle of faith, or a public testimony of following Jesus. I challenge you to get the religion out and the Christ-following in. If all you have is your parent’s faith…it won’t work for you…it has to be your own. On the other hand, many Christian parents have set a wonderful example of love and care and support for children and have taught them well the love of Jesus. Many such parents have obviously understood what it means to share high expectations and ideals. People who keep settling for less than what would be pleasing to God have settled too soon. As you go searching for great things -- understand the words of Jesus:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things (that you need) will be added to you.”

While not a biblical quotation…it perhaps has the vision of one…In the name of Christ, do as much good as you can, as often as you can, for as many as you can and trust God to lead you, to enable you, and to be with you all the way.