In this time of graduations, many
of you will have recited for you the poem “If,” by Rudyard Kipling, by some
young person who believes they have unearthed a rare and precious jewel that
has never before seen the sun. And many
will be impressed and think it is full of great wisdom and promise. But, an even wiser man wrote even greater wisdom, long
before Kipling, that I think holds even greater promise for those who would
tend to it.
Solomon wrote Prov. 2 to his son and
started off with the same word, “If…” Both,
Solomon and Kipling encouraged their sons to accept their words, offered some
useful guidelines, offered some principles to live by (although I would differ
with some of those by Kipling), and suggested there would be rewards; especially if they
listened to their words, even when the rest of the world seemed to be going in
different directions.
However, Solomon’s writing to his
son differed in two respects. One, he
placed greater emphasis on his son’s pursuit of wisdom on his own. Wisdom from our fathers can only take us so
far, and then we must find it on our own. Most graduates forget 80% of what they learned while they were in school.
Solomon encourages his son, “Turn you ear to wisdom and apply your heart
to understanding…call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding…look for
it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.” Solomon’s admonition to his son was to make
it a lifelong pursuit, to put everything he had into it.
A second distinction and one of
great significance is what Solomon describes as the benefit of this pursuit of
wisdom. Kipling’s poem ends with the
words, “”Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it; and—which is more—you’ll
be a man, my son!” Solomon held out to
his son a much greater reward. Although
he assured his son he would benefit by having victory/success, protection from
his enemies, help him have a successful marriage, and have good friends; there
was an even greater treasure in store, and one that is still available to the
graduates of today. Solomon wrote, “Then
you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge
of God.”
Consider the challenge before
us. Do we want our young people to
pursue the earth and everything in it, or to know God?
Godspeed, Phil
Solomon wrote Prov. 2 to his son and
started off with the same word, “If…” Both,
Solomon and Kipling encouraged their sons to accept their words, offered some
useful guidelines, offered some principles to live by (although I would differ
with some of those by Kipling), and suggested there would be rewards; especially if they
listened to their words, even when the rest of the world seemed to be going in
different directions.
However, Solomon’s writing to his
son differed in two respects. One, he
placed greater emphasis on his son’s pursuit of wisdom on his own. Wisdom from our fathers can only take us so
far, and then we must find it on our own. Most graduates forget 80% of what they learned while they were in school.
Solomon encourages his son, “Turn you ear to wisdom and apply your heart
to understanding…call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding…look for
it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.” Solomon’s admonition to his son was to make
it a lifelong pursuit, to put everything he had into it.
A second distinction and one of
great significance is what Solomon describes as the benefit of this pursuit of
wisdom. Kipling’s poem ends with the
words, “”Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it; and—which is more—you’ll
be a man, my son!” Solomon held out to
his son a much greater reward. Although
he assured his son he would benefit by having victory/success, protection from
his enemies, help him have a successful marriage, and have good friends; there
was an even greater treasure in store, and one that is still available to the
graduates of today. Solomon wrote, “Then
you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge
of God.”
Consider the challenge before
us. Do we want our young people to
pursue the earth and everything in it, or to know God?
Godspeed, Phil
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