By David Faust
Every May and June, high school and college students don caps and gowns, and relatives and friends gather at commencement ceremonies to watch them receive their diplomas. Celebrities or members of the graduating class deliver speeches. Occasionally, a commencement speech makes headlines because the speaker said something especially quotable or controversial.
Imagine if a Bible character could address the graduates. Would Joshua conclude by saying something like this? “You must choose your priorities in life. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!” Would Solomon pass along some pithy proverbs? I imagine the graduates nodding when he said, “Much study wearies the body,” but would they agree with his conclusion that they should “fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13)?
How would a commencement crowd respond to a passionate message from a pull-no-punches prophet like Amos or Jeremiah? How would they react to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount or the speech Paul delivered to the philosophers in Athens?
What Daniel Might Say
If he were around today, the prophet Daniel would be a natural choice for a graduation speaker. According to Daniel 1, he was intelligent and good looking, filled with leadership potential. Here are some points I think Daniel might have emphasized in a speech to young adults.
“Serve the Lord wherever you go.” After being yanked away from his home in Judah into Babylonian captivity, Daniel was selected to participate in an elite three-year training program established by the king (Daniel 1:1-5). However, he didn’t leave his convictions behind. When Daniel found himself in stressful situations far from home, he remembered the faith of his fathers.
“Choose your friends wisely.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (v. 6) shared Daniel’s worldview and later they faced their own intense test of faith. I imagine these four friends formed an accountability group and encouraged each other to uphold their convictions.
“Remember who you are and whose you are.” A government administrator assigned Daniel and his friends new Babylonian names (v. 7), but this band of brothers never forgot their Hebrew roots. The Lord, not the prevailing culture, determined their true identity.
“Take care of your body and mind.” Daniel and his friends didn’t fall into the trap of alcohol abuse and careless overeating. Rejecting the king’s fancy food (and its menu items prohibited by the Law of Moses), they consumed a simple vegetarian diet and were healthier than their peers (vv. 8-16).
“Learn all you can, but don’t forget the Lord.” Daniel’s education exposed him to “all kinds of literature and learning” (v. 17), but along with his other studies, he devoted his heart, soul, mind, and strength (including his intellectual prowess) to loving God.
“Use the gifts God has given you.” Daniel possessed a rare God-given ability to “understand visions and dreams of all kinds” (v. 17). That’s not my gift and it’s probably not yours, but the Lord has given all of us gifts we can use to serve him and to bless others.
“Stand up for what you believe.” Daniel’s career blossomed and in time he rose to a top government position, but he never compromised his convictions. His faith even withstood the lion’s den of persecution.
Daniel would be an inspiring commencement speaker, but since he isn’t around today, I hope others will get his message across. Young adults (and older ones, too) still need to hear it.
Personal Challenge: Write a note of encouragement to someone who is graduating from high school or college.
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David Faust’s new book, Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years, was released April 10. It is available from College Press and Amazon. To read an article/excerpt from Not Too Old, click here.
Very good.