Graduation speech Part Two:
In preparation for the appointment, you need to work on becoming rich. No, you know I don't mean monetarily. Some of the people in this world who have lots of money or extremely poor. No, there is a spiritually rich life that God wants you to pursue. Paul told his son in the Spirit, Timothy, the definition of being rich. So, since you are my sons and daughters in the Spirit, I will pass along the definition. "Godliness with contentment is great gain." You can enrich your lives spiritually, be the richest man or woman in the world, by cultivating godliness and contentment.
What is godliness? Ungodliness literally means without a fear or reverence for God. Godliness then is a reverence for the heart of our Savior. Paul also said in Romans that when he meditates on his coming appointment, he does so with "fear and trembling." Now, was Paul in dread of seeing His Savior? No, he claims that to depart--to go to his appointment--is the "far better" thing. A "fear and trembling" attitude toward God is to have a deep desire to never do or say anything that would grieve--break--the heart of the Savior. Godliness is to have such a fear of hurting His heart that I never say or do anything that will do so--I always ask myself, "How will this choice affect my loving Savior's heart?" That motivation keeps me faithfully and lovingly serving Him.
But in order to be rich, I need to learn contentment as well. Let me tell your a story. I had a friend whose father was a bush pilot somewhere in the Northwest--Idaho, one of the Dakota's, Wyoming--I can never remember which. So every time I tell this story I pick a different state. At least once in awhile I'll have it right. Let's go with Wyoming this time. Anyway, one time Dan's father asked him if he wanted to go along on one of his flights. Of course, he was thrilled to do so. They got to the little airport, and Dad started loading the small plane for their journey. And load it he did. Every time Dan thought that that had to be "full enough," Dad would add more until the plane was indeed "full--heavy-laden, no room for more. Then, off they went. Down the runway. And down the runway. And down the runway. Dan was thinking, "planes have breaks, don't they?'' Finally, Dan looks up, and they are almost out of runway--and there is a huge plane-eating fence at the very end. But just at the last second, up they flew, no problem. Dan took a deep sigh, looked up--and there were a whole line of huge trestles--you know, those kinds with high voltage wires stretched between them! Giants! All along the horizon. Was Dad going to go under them or over them? Was there time to turn around? But Dad just rose above them and on they went. When Dan asked his father if he wasn't afraid on that takeoff? The response was eloquently simple, "Son, why would I be afraid? I was always in complete control." That's contentment. No matter how heavy-laden I feel, how long the runway, how many obstacles suddenly loom in front of me, I live a life that reflects my complete confidence that Father is in complete control. Every step of the journey.
Godliness--a deep reverence for the heart of God--plus contentment--a deep confidence in the wisdom of God that He is always in control--will make you the richest man or woman in the world.
What is godliness? Ungodliness literally means without a fear or reverence for God. Godliness then is a reverence for the heart of our Savior. Paul also said in Romans that when he meditates on his coming appointment, he does so with "fear and trembling." Now, was Paul in dread of seeing His Savior? No, he claims that to depart--to go to his appointment--is the "far better" thing. A "fear and trembling" attitude toward God is to have a deep desire to never do or say anything that would grieve--break--the heart of the Savior. Godliness is to have such a fear of hurting His heart that I never say or do anything that will do so--I always ask myself, "How will this choice affect my loving Savior's heart?" That motivation keeps me faithfully and lovingly serving Him.
But in order to be rich, I need to learn contentment as well. Let me tell your a story. I had a friend whose father was a bush pilot somewhere in the Northwest--Idaho, one of the Dakota's, Wyoming--I can never remember which. So every time I tell this story I pick a different state. At least once in awhile I'll have it right. Let's go with Wyoming this time. Anyway, one time Dan's father asked him if he wanted to go along on one of his flights. Of course, he was thrilled to do so. They got to the little airport, and Dad started loading the small plane for their journey. And load it he did. Every time Dan thought that that had to be "full enough," Dad would add more until the plane was indeed "full--heavy-laden, no room for more. Then, off they went. Down the runway. And down the runway. And down the runway. Dan was thinking, "planes have breaks, don't they?'' Finally, Dan looks up, and they are almost out of runway--and there is a huge plane-eating fence at the very end. But just at the last second, up they flew, no problem. Dan took a deep sigh, looked up--and there were a whole line of huge trestles--you know, those kinds with high voltage wires stretched between them! Giants! All along the horizon. Was Dad going to go under them or over them? Was there time to turn around? But Dad just rose above them and on they went. When Dan asked his father if he wasn't afraid on that takeoff? The response was eloquently simple, "Son, why would I be afraid? I was always in complete control." That's contentment. No matter how heavy-laden I feel, how long the runway, how many obstacles suddenly loom in front of me, I live a life that reflects my complete confidence that Father is in complete control. Every step of the journey.
Godliness--a deep reverence for the heart of God--plus contentment--a deep confidence in the wisdom of God that He is always in control--will make you the richest man or woman in the world.
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