I graduated from high school 25 years ago, and I graduated from Ball State University 20 years ago, and I made the same mistake both times.
Both times, I forgot I was ignorant.
Without in anyway dismissing the value of my classes at Bluffton High School and BSU (well, many of classes at Ball State), I confess that I graduated with the assumption that my future employers needed me more than I needed them.
Arguably, I could write strong leads; I could frame a picture based on strong composition principles; active and passive voices could be distinguished by me.
By God’s grace, I could bless someone with this knowledge.
But I still needed wisdom, which recognizes how much those someones could bless and teach me — even if they hadn’t officially learned as much as me.
Like the Apostle Paul, when he still went by Saul, I primarily defined myself and my value by my knowledge and so-called expertise, and I wanted first and foremost for people to recognize that knowledge — and, of course, my value.
And then one day, I took a walk down Damascus Road.
Specifically, my employer asked me to take a photo of a coworker, and I decided to employ a bird’s-eye view, in which the photographer looks down on his subject.
Knowledge assured me that this perspective adds variety to the shot and makes the picture more memorable.
Wisdom, however, questioned if this perspective respectfully portrayed a man with more head than hair.
My employer, speaking on behalf of wisdom, gently encouraged me to try a different perspective, and the small sliver of humility in me agreed once I recognized his reasoning.
With some protest, I took the picture wisely, but to my shame, I resented it. My pride fumed that he had defied my knowledge — my expertise — and unlike the Apostle Paul, I didn’t repent right away.
And I don’t want the class of 2024 to make the same mistake. I want them to seek wisdom that harnesses knowledge — and tempers it too.
Fortunately, they don’t need to endure yet another graduation speech promising that their generation will change the world (every generation does that … for better or worse).
Instead, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,” King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 9:10.
And the Bible has much more to say about wisdom, and not just for graduates.
“But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” ~ 1 Corinthians 2:23-25
“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him …” ~ Ephesians 1:15-17
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” ~ Matthew 7:24, 25
“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” ~ Psalm 90:12
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” ~ James 3:17, 18
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” ~ Colossians 3:16, 17
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13
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