Greg Chandler
05/15/14
Over the course of the next two weeks, millions of young people will graduate from both high school and college. With this milestone will come both solicited and unsolicited advice for the next step in life and for living life in general. This is good and young people should listen. Throughout the book of Proverbs Solomon admonishes young people to listen to parents, to the elderly, and to any who are wise so that mistakes can be avoided. For those giving advice, however, there is a grave responsibility to present the message God wants given and not the advice with which the giver might be comfortable. For many would-be sages, the message to young men and women is “safety first!” Always take the safest course in making sure that the future is secured –good education, good job, good benefits, good retirement and on and on it goes. While these messages certainly have merit, they can often subjectively encourage a young man or woman to avoid any situation where risk may be involved, including the opportunities that the Lord gives. With this in mind, consider two young men who took a very unsafe route by earthly standards, yet became giants in the faith.
Joseph was a young man from a prosperous family and greatly loved by his father. Material possessions and parental care cannot, however, always protect one from the harshness of life. Hated by his brothers, Joseph was nearly killed before his older brother suggested that he be sold into slavery. While the brother planned his rescue, the wheels of action were set into motion and Joseph found himself a slave in the house of Potiphar. While it appeared this would provide at least a reasonable life for a slave, the lusts of his master’s wife led to his arrest and imprisonment. Seemingly forgotten and alone, Joseph bided his time until at last he was called into the presence of Pharaoh. Through God’s providence, Joseph not only became Egypt’s prime minister but also saved his family and countless others from physical starvation. Even with the good outcome, wouldn’t it have been wiser for Joseph to have taken the safe course? Would it have not been better had he committed adultery with his master’s wife and preserved his position? Should he not have cursed the God who forgot about him in the dark Egyptian prison? Shouldn’t be have exacted vengeance on brothers who abandoned him to slave traders at age seventeen? This young man did not take the safe course and, because of it, developed into a godly man who could look upon his villainous brothers and say, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:19-20). His decisions led him to godliness!
Jeremiah lived in a dark time of Judah’s history. He was certainly not excited when God came to him while he was a very young man and commissioned him as a prophet to these people. At first, Jeremiah protested and sought to excuse himself saying, “I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1: 7). God, however, had a much different path for Jeremiah than the safe course he might have liked to follow. With this, he was set on his journey with the Lord’s faithful promise, “For I am with you to deliver you” (1:8). The life Jeremiah led placed in the midst of hostile leaders, rebellious Jews, corrupt religious leaders, and a host of others who failed to appreciate the message God had sent. In fact, the end of his life most likely came in Egypt after being forced to abandon his homeland by wicked countrymen. Yet, what would have happened if Jeremiah had forsaken the Lord’s plan for the safe course of life? The Lord’s message would not have been spoken by him to those in need. The message of repentance might very well have been silenced by the ungodly shepherds of Israel. Multitudes of Bible readers would never have been encouraged by the struggles faced by this godly man. The safe course might have been the easier course in the short term, but the long term consequences would have been dire.
In reality, the ultimate safe course is the one set by the Lord. It will not follow the wisdom of men, but will always lead to Him. Young people should look upon the work of the Lord as an opportunity to serve rather than an opportunity for comfort. When situations come along where good can be done, it should be done regardless of the personal cost. Like Joseph and Jeremiah, the journey may be difficult but the outcome will be well worth it. These are wise words to graduates and for any who desire real service to the Lord.