The Way the World Works:  Wisdom for the Graduate

 

  1. Plan for the future; Plan for eternity
    1. Tomorrow is going to come
    2. “If you don’t know where you are going you will end up somewhere else.”
    3. What you are in 5, 10, 20 years will be the results of decisions you make or don’t make today.
  2. Have a Passion
    1. Find something you love to do and do it.
    2. If you want to be great find out what you are good at and do it all the time.
  3. Balance Dreams and Responsibilities
    1. Dreams and Responsibilities are like two sides of a step ladder

                                                               i.      If you fail at the responsibilities in life your dreams will become worthless fantasies.

                                                             ii.      If you fail to have a dream then responsibilities will turn your life into a stoic, hardened, meaningless life.

  1. You are not alone
    1. What you do affects others
    2. You do not live and act in a vacuum.
    3. The older you get the more real and powerful this truth becomes obvious
    4. You are part of a:

                                                               i.      Family

                                                             ii.      Social group

                                                            iii.      Nation

                                                           iv.      Church

                                                             v.      Universal body of Christ

  1. Sometimes People are kind and will help you. . .
                     . . . but, most of the time they won’t.  So plan on it.                                                                         
                              Why? Because of #6. . .
  2. People Are Not Always Thinking About You
    1. People do not spend near as much time thinking about you as you spend worrying about what they think of you.
    2. This is really good news.  You can stop worrying about what other people think of you because they are spending most of their time thinking of themselves.  So relax.  Do what is right.
  3. Education is Overrated
    1. Education and Knowledge are two different things.
    2. Licenses and Skill are two different things.

                                                               i.      For example: Being 16 years old with a drivers licenses and being a 16 year old that knows how to drive are two different things.

                                                             ii.      Having a diploma doesn’t mean you know what to do or that you can do what you know.

    1. About the License. . .see #8
  1. Society Has Rules so Play By the Rules
    1. You may know how to drive but the police officer is still going to want to see your license.
  2. Self-Control is more important now than ever before
    1. Freedom from parents reveals the heart, soul and self-control of a child.
    2. Understand that many people mistake a freefall with soaring-like-an-eagle.        

                                                               i.      When someone falls off a ten story building they may experience a sense of freedom and even at times feel like they are flying

                                                             ii.      But, when they hit the pavement it is clear that the freedom they were experiencing was lacking some control.

  1. This is a Moral Universe
    1. Right will prevail.  The Righteous will win and rejoice.
    2. Wrong will always suffer.  The Wicked will always lose and mourn.
  2. Success Hurts
    1. To succeed you will have to pay the price
    2. The price of success is paid many ways:

                                                               i.      Hard work

                                                             ii.      Loss of sleep

                                                            iii.      Enduring failure

                                                           iv.      Rejection

                                                             v.      Having to Start Over, . . .again.

  1. Do Not Let Other People and Society Define “Success” for You
    1. Money, Fame, Possessions, Employment, Popularity are coverings that many unsuccessful people use to appear to be successful.
  2. Truth is Older than the Universe
    1. Most “new” philosophies are a result of “confused” thinkers
    2. The Romans knew they had become great because of who their ancestors where and what they had done.  So, Rome rejected “new”.
    3. America is in the process of overthrowing themselves by ripping down the foundations that have made them great. 
    4. Home improvement does not usually involve smashing the basement walls and blasting the foundation out of the ground.  We can improve our society without having to destroy it.
  3. In the End the Only Thing That will Matter Will Be People
    1. “For God so Loved the World He sent His Son. . .”
    2. Now, today, “For God still Loves the World He has sent you. . .”
    3. The only thing we can take to heaven with us is other people.
  4. Do Not Worship the False Gods
    1. Money
    2. Material things
    3. Entertainment
    4. Leisure
    5. Social Acceptance
  5. Do Not Neutralize Christianity
    1. It is the Way
    2. It is the Truth
    3. It is the Life
    4. Do not apologize for the truth but defend it, proclaim it, and live it.
    5. Christianity Works