A Push for Higher Education

[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]

It is interesting to note the emphasis this country places on education and to see how many who desire to remain ignorant. Televised commercials have relayed the message for younger individuals to stay in school and earn a GED. Other commercials have aired by various universities to convince individuals that their campus is the best place to engage in higher learning to advance for a comfortable life. It is indeed good for people to have an interest in having knowledge to acquire a skill to be productive in society and provide for self or family. Sadly there are Christians who place a greater emphasis on pursuing a secular education rather than higher education in the word of God. The most enriching knowledge is the knowledge found in Christ that is able to save and perfect our lives.

Before the pursuit of higher education, one must be grounded in the elementary principles. We understand this when we see universities not allowing people who have not completed a high school degree before allowing admittance. The same is true when we aspire to have a great knowledge of the Scriptures. Not everyone is ready for the weightier or more complex studies. It is needful to be well-grounded in the basic principles. Peter said that Christians ought to desire for the pure milk of the word like newborn babes desire milk (1 Pet. 2:1-3). The novice is not expected to handle the mature things of the gospel, but what is expected is a desire to grow.

The Hebrew writer wrote to an audience that ought to have grown into maturity, but still lacked some basic knowledge (Heb. 5:11-14). This audience had grown dull of hearing, and lost interest in truth. Although this group may have possibly seemed to be alive outwardly, the inner man was perishing from a lack of knowledge. Jesus said that it was His words that He spoke which gives life (Jn. 6:63). To have the life, one must take in the words. Knowledge is not miraculous in the receipt, but rather the product of careful examination.

A person does not wake up knowing how to perform a surgical procedure. It requires due diligence to study and testing. The same is true of any field of work. People understand this concept in the secular world, but choose to forget about it when considering religion. Those who refuse to excel and learn God’s word will be destroyed. Hosea’s message was to repent and abide in the Law which God gave on Mt. Sinai. Before this could happen, people would need to have knowledge of the Law. A lack of knowledge will cause certain destruction (Hos. 4:6). The rejection of God’s word by an individual will cause the rejection of an individual by God. The Israelites faced a physical destruction of their kingdom, but we face an eternal ruin (Rom. 6:23). The solution is knowledge of God’s word.

Paul on various occasions took time to alert individuals of each one’s daily conduct. Paul described our lives as walking about. Paul wanted the Colossians to walk worthily of the Lord (Col. 1:10). He prayed for this continually. The Colossians would have the ability to act appropriately when they were filled with knowledge (Col. 1:9), and would go on to increase in knowledge as well (Col. 1:10). The application and use of knowledge would cause the development of wisdom and understanding. These things coincide in harmony with each other. The Colossians would walk, with understanding and wisdom, appropriately because it would be according to knowledge of God’s word.

Not only did Paul call for a worthy walk, but also to walk carefully. There are times when one needs to be looking where to step to prevent any blunders. The Ephesians were told to walk carefully as wise men (Eph. 5:15). A wise person does not want to stumble about in a way that would cause a fall. Falls can really hurt! We can see that people who are drunk will fall down a bit more than people who are sober. We will be able to walk as the wise and prevent falls when we have understanding of God’s will (Eph. 5:17). One cannot begin to be careful without knowledge of what to be careful around!

People feel that they are enriched by the knowledge they have in this physical world. Certainly knowledge in this world can allow one to possess various luxury items and live comfortably. Yet I am reminded of the Rich Man who only strove in his daily work instead of attaining and retaining knowledge of God. This man tore down his barns to build larger barns, and decided that all was well. Maybe physically, but the Lord reminded told this man he was a fool because of how poor he was spiritually (Luke 12:16-21). This man had security financially, but the security of his soul was nonexistent. It is good to provide for self and work hard, but to only do this and not put God as our aim will prove to be our ruin.

God knows we have needs. He created us and knows exactly how we function! We are given the charge to seek God’s righteousness and His kingdom first (Mt. 6:31-33, Luke 12:29-31). In contrast to the natural world that has existed since the dawn of time, our lives are mere snapshots. Due to the shortness of life (Js. 4:13-16), we have an urgent need to live righteously for the time will come when no more work can be done and we will reap what we have sown (Gal. 6:7-10). So how can one reap the blessing of eternal life without knowledge of how to sow deeds of obedience to yield this crop (Rom. 6:23)? As we meet different phases in life, we are able to learn different lessons from the Scriptures. God will spew the individuals who have become stagnate and luke-warm (Rev. 3:15-19). Complacency is not acceptable, for it does not allow growth.

As we learn more, we become more aware of our surroundings and have a clearer understanding of what is happening. Many do not understand this and will disprove a drive for higher learning based on what they feel. They do not understand because they have not set out to know. People who have not determined to have knowledge of the Scripture cannot truly understand the deep hope we have in Christ. A person may view the gospel, but not make it an aim to know it. People like this will do ‘good’ things in the name of Christ but not according to an accurate knowledge of Christ (Mt. 7:21-23). Either if we are ignorant of the set standard, or are perfectly aware of what has been set, noncompliance will result in punishment. Do not let ignorance be your excuse, for it will not justify any action. A push for higher education of the gospel will cause us to be justified resulting in a satisfying and enriching life.


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