8th Grade Graduation Address, Proverbs 3:1-12 "Miners of God's Wisdom"

Proverbs 3:1–12 (ESV)

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, ² for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. ³ Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. ¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, ¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

There’s a fascinating chapter of the Bible, Job 28, written some 3,500 years ago, a poem about ancient miners digging in the heart of the earth and under mountains to find gold, iron, copper, sapphires, silver, and other precious metals and gems. The ancient miner goes out to lonely and forgotten places, and digs deep under the earth, hidden from the sight of the birds and the animals, away from mankind, and finds great treasures. But this isn’t a passage about how to get rich with your pickaxe and shovel. Job compares this search for treasure to the treasure of God’s wisdom. Priceless in worth, God’s wisdom can’t be bought with gold, or found deep in the earth or the ocean. Its hidden from the sight of birds and animals. Yes God’s wisdom is even hidden from humans who think they’re wise. Our reading from Proverbs calls it being “wise in your own eyes.” Job 28 ends by stating “the fear of the Lord; that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” God is the source of true wisdom.

What if I told you all your teachers here at Emmanuel were miners, and didn’t even know it? They’ve spent years working in the mines—the treasure mines of God’s Word. They’ve gained great profit from that mining—not a profit of money—but the profit of God’s wisdom. And all these years they’ve been teaching you how to use your “pickaxe and shovel” to go into the treasure mine of God’s wisdom. Your most basic skills developed in school—how to listen, how to read, and how to understand, are your “pickaxe and shovel”. You’ve just started scratching the surface of a treasure mine with your “tools.” There’s so much you have never explored, not only in the knowledge of this world God has made, but especially in God’s Word, the Bible. The discovery and enjoyment of that wisdom and knowledge will take you more than a lifetime to experience. Curiosity and a love for God’s Word will keep you exploring and learning. On the other hand, by ignoring the treasure, and growing tired of the ‘dig’, you will miss out on the priceless worth of what God would teach you.

You’ve chosen Bible verses that are like little sparkling diamonds that you’ve discovered—either on your own, or by the help of an experienced miner who knows the “mines” of God’s Word, and has helped you find your way to a precious jewel. And you know what? They haven’t left those mines, and it’s my prayer, that you will never leave them either, but will continue in a lifelong search for God’s wisdom for your life, in the Bible.

Mr. Rempfer introduced Proverbs 3 to you at the beginning of your 8^th grade year. It’s about growing in knowledge and wisdom. Listen to these verses:

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

We find God’s wisdom and knowledge by trusting in Him. Having the posture of a student, a listener, a learner. Being teachable—someone who is open to instruction. The verse also describes the opposite attitude. “Leaning on your own understanding” or being “wise in your own eyes.” That’s an attitude of being the “wise guy” or “wise girl” who already knows everything, who doesn’t need to listen, or doesn’t want to learn. It’s the attitude of “I know best.”

God’s Word is not a “treasure map”—it’s the treasure mine itself. What do we find inside? God’s Word of salvation, the origin and purpose of life in this world, and how to live at peace with one another and enjoy the fullness of life. We learn the reason for evil and suffering in this world—how sin turned us against God’s Wisdom, and made us wise in our own eyes. How sin twists life and breeds selfishness, greed, hatred, betrayal, warfare, and all other evil things. But we also learn how God has dealt with evil, sin and death by sending His Son Jesus into this world on an amazing rescue mission. The greatest treasure we can discover in God’s Word is this Good News: that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Bring a learner’s attitude to God’s Word. Be ready to listen, read, and understand; and the Holy Spirit will fill us with wisdom. Did you know that Jesus said God will never turn down a prayer request for His Holy Spirit? Or that the Bible promises you can pray for wisdom, and God will answer yes? Don’t lose the learner attitude—not after this graduation or any future one! You are never done learning, even when you finish school!

Proverbs 3 also describes many of the rewards of a learner’s attitude. God will guide you on straight paths, and keep you from evil. When you stumble and make mistakes, be humble and turn back to God (repentance); He will bring you healing and refreshment. Jesus is a patient Teacher. He wants us to learn, and not fail.

Another section of the reading says this:

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, ¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

This is another important lesson. Don’t resent loving relationships that involve discipline. What are some of those relationships? With your parents, teachers, principle, pastors, coaches, eventually employers, etc. Young or old, sometimes we think that love means having no boundaries, or we just think we should be able to do whatever we want. Our parents tell us “No!” and we shoot back—“See! You don’t love me!” As if their love meant they could never tell us “no” to anything. Obviously that’s not true. Your parents love you deeply and care about your growth into maturity. So does everyone who surrounds you today. Everyone knows this is an exciting step into bigger responsibilities, more decision-making, and bigger challenges.

High school is exciting. It’s also really a tough time for good decision-making. More and more, that will be your responsibility. Strong emotions, peer pressure, a need to “fit in” or “belong”; excitement, danger, and fun are all jumbled up in the years ahead. All that affects your decision-making. Academics, sports, extra-curricular activities, relationships, getting ready for college. It can seem overwhelming, and it’s easy to just be swept along. And sometimes, because your parents, teachers, and others love you, and care about you—there is discipline. You make unfortunate choices, and there are consequences. Maybe you lose a little freedom for a while. But don’t resent them for it. Discipline now spares greater pain in the future.

God corrects those whom He loves, and who have a learner attitude. God disciplines those whom He loves. God’s treasures in His Word, and lessons gained in life are not always easy to access. Sometimes we learn the hard way. Sometimes through pain, difficulty, and frustration. But give thanks that you have loving parents, loving teachers, and most of all a loving God teaching you. Give thanks that they care enough about you to help set boundaries to guide you on a path to success. Give thanks for those who care enough to help set you back on the right path when you’ve veered off it.

You’ve been given many tools for success at Emmanuel. You’ve been loved, you’ve been taught, you’ve been given the tools for learning. You’re still just starting that learning journey. The tools are a little unfamiliar in your hands; but you’ll get better at using them over the coming years. Don’t get frustrated by failures. Almost nobody succeeds without first having made a lot of failures along the way. But the more that you turn to God’s Word, relying on His wisdom instead of your own—the more you can avoid the foolish and avoidable mistakes. There are plenty of unavoidable mistakes and failures too—but that’s all part of the learning process.

Proverbs 3 began with these words: “do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments”. My last thought for you today is this—it’s easy to forget what we’ve been taught, especially when we don’t keep it in use and practice. Maybe you’ve already forgotten half of what I’ve said today—but God wants you to keep His wisdom, His love, and faithfulness closely held around our necks and written on our hearts. Don’t let it get far away from you. Don’t abandon the mine. Many real life treasure mines have been abandoned after all their riches were exhausted. But God’s Word, the Bible, is an inexhaustible treasure mine. Never abandon His Word—especially when other’s tempt you with fool’s gold, that is of no value, or when you feel tired, bored, or lazy. Don’t give up the pursuit of God’s Wisdom, and don’t lean on your own understanding.

Jesus said it this way: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” There are many lessons that have been learned and even forgotten in these years at Emmanuel—but do not forget God’s teaching. Always return to the treasure mine of His Word; put your heart there and you will find joy, confidence, peace, wisdom, and love in greater measure than you can explore in a lifetime. God’s precious plan and purpose for you is to know Him deeply and to be loved by Him. He sent His love in person to us, through His Son Jesus Christ—He is your companion, your Teacher, and your Treasure for all the years that are ahead of you. Congratulations and God be with you! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.