August 18, 2016 (Thursday)
The third year I was pastor in Rockport I was asked to deliver the Baccalaureate sermon to the graduation class of the high school. It was the Baptists’ turn. Attendance was optional for the graduates. The principal, Chester Barre, arranged a schedule which placed each pastor in a rotation system that worked well and extended a long-time tradition. Some time later, that system was laid to rest as much confusion developed about church-state issues. No more baccalaureate sermons. I was the speaker on several occasions through the years, and I would like to share with you today a message that I presented to the 1987 senior class. It was entitled, “Think!” and suggested three things to that group. Here goes:
1. Don’t shoot yourself down!
The Bible tells us of a young man who grew tired of waiting for his father to die and demanded his inhertance while he was still young enough to enjoy spending it. The father gave it to him. He wasted every penny by living irresponsibly. He woke up one morning in a pig pen located in a far away place. Broke, and without friends, he went back home to beg his father to hire him as a servant. He had shot himself down. He was fortunate because his father welcomed him back home and restored him as a member of the family. Not everyone who makes these kinds of mistakes is so fortunate. I met one such man in Fort Worth one day who was seeing little non-existent creatures on the sidewalk. He had “shot himself down” by doing “his own thing,” which turned out to be the wrong thing. Don’t shoot yourself down.
2. Don’t rob yourself blind!
A contractor hired his new son-in-law to be in charge of building one of the houses in his subdivision. He told the young man to keep all the records on the project so that they would know definitely how much it cost to build it. The newest member of the family cut corners, fixing the books so that they showed higher expenses than those actually incurred. He used cheaper materials for the house, and sub-standard fixtures, etc. but reported expenses of the higher priced things he did not actually use. He was pround of himself for being shrewd. He pocketed the difference. When the house was finished, his father-in-law handed him the house as a wedding gift! He had cheated himself. Don’t cheat yourself in life. Always do your best. Don’t rob yourself blind.
3. Don’t lock yourself out!
Sultan the chimp was hungry. He tried over and over to reach the fruit inside a container in front of him, but gradually gave up. He sat dejected and hungry. Depressed. Then his eye caught sight of two sticks in his little room. An idea came to him, and with those sticks manipulated the fruit so that it finally came out of the container that seemed to be locked. He would not give up. He kept trying. He finally got was he was looking for. He showed obvious signs of pure joy. He refused to be locked out. He taught a lesson: never give up. Don’t lock yourself out.
Think! Live a happy, meaningful life. It’s up to you.
(I wonder how those 1987 seniors are doing these days).