(1) Have something to DO. (2) have someone to LOVE. (3) Have something to BELIEVE in, and (4) have something to HOPE for.

Last month there were many school graduations and the news media devoted a lot of air time to some of the commencement addresses.  I don’t recall the school from whence the one I’m using as a basis for today’s editorial came from, but I thought it appropriate enough to write it down and draw a spiritual lesson from.  Of course, I have to condense it somewhat due to my limited space.

The speaker said some things to the graduation class that I thought worthy of repeating and then amplifying on.  He said: “There are four things important to everyone.  (1) Have something to DO.  (2) have someone to LOVE.  (3) Have something to BELIEVE in, and (4) have something to HOPE for.

He then provided them with three rules to follow.  Nr. 1 - Do what’s right.  There is never a right time to do wrong, and by the token, there is never a wrong time to do right.  Nr. 2 - Do everything to the best of your ability with the time you are allotted.  Nr. 3 - Show people that you care, with there being many ways to do so and, with the idea that, most of them are “little.”  Because everyone needs encouragement from time to time.  Even just a smile or a pat on the back.

He also issued an caveat along with number 3 and that was, don’t assume that they know you care.  Don’t wait to go to their funeral and sign the guest book to show your care.  Do it when and while you have the opportunity and they are with us.  Just think to yourself, how many times have you wished you had told someone how much you appreciated them before it was too late to do so?

Okay, let me take those thoughts expressed by our commencement speaker and apply them to some scriptural thoughts.  In a sense, apply them to our lives as Christians and, I’ll tell you right up front that there are many more passages I could have cited beyond the ones I’ll give you, that speak to the topic of discussion.

In regards to the 4 important things, number 1 was having something to DO.  The first thought that comes to my mind on this subject is that Christians are to DO good.  Matt. 5:16 tells us to do good things that bring glory to God.  And verse 44 of that chapter also tells us that “doing good” to just our friends is nothing special.  It brings no glory to God.

But, “doing good” as Christians to everyone, even our enemies, does bring glory to God.  Rom. 2:10 shows us this principle by using the parameters “to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.”  That simply means - everyone.

Nr. 2 was to have someone to LOVE.  Of course, in the earthly sense, having someone that we love and that loves us makes our lives full and complete.  And, starting with a husband and wife, that usually translates out to even more people and more “loves.”  But, in regards to our spiritual connection, Deut. 6:5 says that we are to “love God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” 

Probably the best scriptural application though is found in Matt. 22:37-40 where we read: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Then we go to number 3: something to believe in.  Fundamentally, a Christian believes in “the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Acts 16:31)   Inherent in this “belief” is obedience to His Gospel.  They cannot be separated and still be acceptable.  In Romans 6:8 we read that if we’ve “died with Christ (been baptized into His death) then we believe that we shall also live with Him.”

Eph. 1:19-19 helps to understand what “living with Him” actually means, IE: receiving the “riches of His glorious inheritance” and the “immeasurable greatness of His power” that is bestowed “unto us who believe.”

And number 4: having something to HOPE for.   In Romans 5:1-2 we read there that, being “justified by faith” in Jesus Christ we have “peace with God” and that allows us to “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”  Another passage that helps show us where we get HOPE is that it comes to us from the “patience and comfort of the scriptures.”  That simply means that we get HOPE by studying and understanding that which is found in God’s Word.  As more evidence of this, we can read Col. 1:5 “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.”

Now, let’s drop on down to the “3 rules to follow.”  I don’t think that we have to look any further than 2Cor. 8:21 for our scriptural tie-in to “doing what’s right.”  “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”  And here’s something to always keep in mind: if you aren’t right (honest) with your fellow man, you aren’t right or honest with God.

As to the second “rule,” using our abilities to the best we can with the time we’re allotted” reminds me of the lesson learned in the parable of the “talents”  (Matt. 25:14-30) in this way.  The “kingdom of heaven” (the Church) is made up of members having a varied amount of abilities.  We are expected, by God, to use whatever amount of ability we’ve been given to the best of our ability.  We are responsible for doing so with whatever time we’re allotted.  We owe both God and our fellow man our best efforts.

And last, but not least, “show people that you care.”  I encourage you to read the thoughts found in 1 Cor. 12:25-26.  It’s there that you’ll see that a Christian should have “care” for each other.  That we’re to be concerned about other’s welfare, both spiritually and temporally.  And 2Cor. 8:16 let’s us know where our “care” comes from - our “heart” (mind).  The same place that all our thoughts and actions stem from.  And a study of 1Pet. 5:7 tells us that, like we “love” because God “loves us,” we “care” because “He cares” for us.

Well, let’s wrap these thoughts up by asking the question: What do you care for?  Is it the “cares of the world” as seen in Mark 4:19, or do you care for the souls of others?  We can only look at ourselves for the answer to that question.  As you make your introspection remember this old truism: “You can’t take your money to heaven with you, but you can take souls.”

One last truism and as preachers say, “the lesson is yours.”  This one is  applicable to both horticulture and our Christian faith.  “You’re either growing or you’re dying.”  This is true in all the things we’ve discussed today.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey