It is not at all sure that in any audience an agreement could be struck as to what success is. Neither is it by any means certain that success, as commonly spoken of, is necessarily a wholly desirable objective. Likewise, it is far from certain that anyone knows for sure what for another person constitutes happiness. Many people have so nebulous a concept of it that they do not know of what that happiness consists which they so eagerly seek for themselves. Countless Americans in many walks of life and at all income levels apparently regard the pursuit of happiness as nothing beyond a continual extension of their shopping list of material possessions.
The kind of happiness I hope you will achieve is that which derives from achievement, the fulfillment of your highest potential, from loving and being loved, from the satisfaction of effort expended irrespective of reward or recognition, and only to a very limited extent from the acquisition of material possessions beyond that which is essential for a reasonably comfortable existence.
Whether conscious of it or not, every rational person owns a personal philosophy of life, a frame of reference, as it were, which makes sense at least to its possessor. Such a set of philosophical principles, by which each of us lives, is the possession of all sane and normal persons, be they rich or poor, religious or irreligious, lettered or ignorant. 'Without some such basic set or pattern of reasonably harmonious concepts, no one of us could long live or function at all.
Now it is clearly the responsibility of the enlightened, scholarly Christian leaders in every age to assist one another, to guide their children, to help the youth in the schools, and to admonish the believers in the congregation to fairly evaluate and to reject or to incorporate into their personal Christian philosophy every significant development, invention, or discovery as each is unfolded. At one time the burning issue of the age was the great question of freedom of individual conscience. At another time it was the impact upon Christianity of the theory of evolution. Latterly our own personal philosophies, founded on Christianity, may well be disturbed by the march of Communism or the implications of thermonuclear fission.
Fortunately, the sturdy Christian concept, which is, I trust, the philosophical viewpoint with which you and I approach these and all other grave questions of morality, philosophy, and ethics, has a fixed foundation. Thank God, we can take the Holy Scriptures, point out the Decalogue therein, and say with Luther, "Here I stand"! Here we have the traditional absolutes that revealed truth is knowable, that good and evil are clearly separate, recognizable and unchangeable.
The Christian, relying on his belief in the creed of Christian doctrine, rejects pragmatism and finds confidence and comfort in the absolute and eternal truth that good is not evil nor evil good, that there can be no compromise between them.
Success Defined
If there is one definition of success that stands out above others, it is that which describes success in terms of fulfillment. It is wholly within the Christian concept to say that the most successful life is that which most completely realizes or achieves its potential. Given talent in any form, according to this idea, each person is successful to the extent that his individual talent is developed, exploited, and applied to worthy purposes in life. In a sense this is self-realization, the fulfillment of destiny. Contrari-wise, the person who falls short of realizing his potential achievement is, to the extent that he falls short, a failure.
Furthermore, the Christian concept of success embraces two other principles. One of these is so well known that you may not have considered it as an element of success at all. It is this, that to be truly successful a person must not only do good; he must be good. By this standard, character stands above achievement. This runs counter to the widespread popular attitude of tolerance toward a man's questionable character or loose conduct as long as he is productive:Surely you have already learned the important lesson that integrity, honesty, dependability, and good habits are basic essentials for the foundation of a successful life.
You are all familiar with the oft-quoted statement from Ellen G. White that the greatest want of the world is the need of men who "in their inmost souls are true and honest, . . . whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall."—Education, p. 57. The writer goes on to explain that such a noble character is not the result of an accident nor due to special favors or endowments of Providence. Instead, she states that a noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature—the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man. If we regard success as basically consisting of a noble character, each of us faces a grave responsibility. In the great task of developing character, which is a personal responsibility no one can escape, there are certain basic elements that are recognized and appreciated everywhere.
A Noble Character
First, there will be need for absolute sincerity in the conduct of your own personal affairs. It is just as easy for the educated as for all others to pose a little now and then, so that a person seems to be something different from what he really is. There is a poem entitled "Four Men Under One Hat." Who were these four persons? One was the man he thought he was. Another was the man he wanted to be. The third was the man other people thought him to be. And the fourth man was the one God knew him to be. The person who strives earnestly for sincerity in the life will blend these four personalities into one—the true and genuine individual himself.
Second, there will be need of the most transparent integrity in the intellectual life. I do not mean honesty in examinations, expense reports, income-tax returns, et cetera, although those are a part of it; but in a larger sense intellectual sincerity to me means living up to the very best I know and constantly bringing my life into harmony with my deepest convictions. There is such widespread departure from this principle these days that many people resort to what psychologists call the "closed compartment concept." Instead of facing up squarely to the moral issues of life, such persons take refuge from their conscience, as it were, by living in one of two or more closed moral compartments that are at complete variance with each other. Such persons live a sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde existence, which plays havoc with personality, to say nothing about the effect on character.
Third, there will be need of the highest moral ethics in the social life. Here there are many pitfalls. Ordinary social life is so full of cloying insincerity as to make it often thoroughly objectionable, if not revolting, to the person of deep sincerity. Listening of an evening to the chitchat of the average social gathering, a person can hear and recognize enough half lies and brash insincerity to altogether spoil the effects of the affair.
A fourth element essential to a well-rounded character, which, be it remembered, is a vital ingredient of success, may be called purity of heart. Some consider this under the heading of a noble spirit. I shall explain what I have in mind. There are those who insist that what we do is more important than what we are. The truth is that to a very large extent it is what we are that determines what we do. In other words, character not only comes before career, but it is our individual characters that determine our personal careers. As previously stated, in the larger sense a person must be good before he can do good. There is strength in purity, and the rectitude of noble Christian character demands of all the strict adherence in thought as well as in words to purity and uprightness.
In a larger sense this question of character development is the most important objective of life. The Spirit of prophecy tells us that "the great work of life is character-building."—Pairiarchs and Prophets, p. 596.
While character always ranks above career, character also goes a long way to ensure a worthy and honorable achievement in life. In other words, a good character fosters a good career. About the best guarantee in the world for a really important and respected career is an upright, well-rounded Christian character.
Do you truly aspire to a life of usefulness? Do you entertain an ambition to achieve an honorable recognition in life? There is nothing im-proper in such aspirations. If you would achieve them, do not overlook the transcendent importance of character elements. If you strive honestly and honorably and if your aim is a worthy one, you can rightly ask God to guide and direct you toward your goal. In Psalm 75:6 and 7 I read: "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."
A Sense of Service
Therefore, the first essential to a truly successful life is, according to the Christian philosophy, a noble character. There is a second element. It is a sense of service. This obligation, which is felt by all truly consecrated men and women, is akin to the spirit that impelled the apostle Paul to declare, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise" (Rom. 1:14). Paul sensed so keenly the obligation he owed others that he declared "as much as in me is." In other words, to the very limit of his talent and strength he would serve others. As Christians we must assume our portion of this same obligation of =ice. To discharge this responsibility worthily you must assume \ our place, realizing that your role in life is "not to be ministered unto, but to minister." You are therefore admonished to approach your work with the words of the Master upon your lips, "I am among you as he that serveth- (Luke 22:27).
Not all realize that before Jesus came success was almost universally measured in terms of wealth, power, and glory. The successful man was that man who outdid his fellows in gathering the most for himself. The humble Galilean set a man's pyramid of values on its apex when He declared, "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." This was an astounding and a revolutionary . concept—that it is not what you get, but rather what you give, that makes you rich. On Jesus' lips the word service took on a new and illuminated meaning. Instead of abject humiliation as before, service thereafter meant a glorious dedication by the choice of the will. Here is the great secret of rewarding, and thus happy, service. This is the key to true distinction.
The erroneous belief that a multiplicity of things will ensure happiness is a major cause for much of the unrest and dissatisfaction we find all about us.
Many intelligent, capable, and educated people are unhappy nowadays because for them life has become dull and commonplace and seems to have lost its meaning and significance. "Getting and spending," as Wordsworth said long ago, "we lay waste our powers." Having turned their interest inward, they become increasingly concerned with themselves and the things they own, to the exclusion of an interest in others. They seem unconcerned and untouched by the woes and the needs of the less fortunate about them. One has only to possess half sight to recognize that sin and sorrow exist on every side, rampant and unabashed. Venality and duplicity have invaded and affected almost every phase of our life and have become a national disgrace.
The danger, of course, is that this spirit will infect us. Little reflection is needed to convince one that the whole spirit of Christianity is exactly the opposite of this; namely, it is basically unselfish. The meek and lowly Saviour lived a life of selfless service. He taught a doctrine that runs counter to much that we see in our national philosophy today. By His life and words He showed that in the final analysis it is not what you get but what you give that makes you rich. Without the sacred flame of service burning in our hearts, life can have little significance for any one of us. When self-service becomes an end in itself, life runs down until all is dull and commonplace. To make your lives pleasing to God and rewarding to yourselves, find and follow a personal vision of truly consecrated unselfish service.
"There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God."—The Ministry of Healing, p. 159.
If success in the true sense he your aim, you have, therefore, these two elements here exalted: first, character, and second, service. What shall we say, then, about that other topic, happiness? Happiness is never found when sought as an end in itself. Even the Constitution does not attempt to assure us happiness. It only emphasizes that in a free society all men should be given the widest opportunity to move in "pursuit of happiness." However, on the testimony of scores who have labored single-mindedly for character development and who have given generously of their effort and talents on behalf of others, happiness may well be a concomitant of existence in this life. Henry Drummond made this observation: "Half the world is on the wrong scent in the pursuit of happiness. They think it consists in having and getting and being served by others, whereas, it actually consists in giving and in serving others." Dr. Albert Schweitzer adds, "One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
Let not young souls be smothered out before They do quaint deeds and fully flaunt their pride. It is the world's one crime its babes grow dull, Its poor are ox-like, limp and leaden-eyed.
Not that they starve, but starve so dreamlessly, Not that they sow, but that they seldom reap, Not that they serve, but have no gods to serve, Not that they die, but that they die like sheep.
" The work that lies before us is one that will put to the stretch every power of the human being. It will call for the exercise of strong faith and constant vigilance.... Yet, with God's help, His servants will finally triumph. "Wherefore," my brethren, "I desire that ye faint not" because of the trying experiences that are before you. Jesus will be with you; He will go before you by His Holy Spirit, preparing the way; and He will be your helper in every emergency.' "Life Sketches, p. 439.
Therefore, on the basis of your record of good conduct, your scholarly attainments, and your general promise of future service to the great Advent Movement that supports this institution, the university now stands ready to confer upon you your degrees. Your teachers have gone with you hitherto. Henceforth, you go alone. May the Lord rule in the throne room of your heart, for it is the control room of the life. May He bless and preserve you and make His face to shine upon you. The Lord lift up the radiance of His countenance upon you in every night of affliction and in every hour of triumph, and give you peace!
