Education
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
What does the Bible say about education? How important is education to a Bible believing follower of Jesus? Was Jesus educated? And what did Jesus have to say about education?
The scriptures have much to teach us about education and have much to say about education, teaching, and learning.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be disciples—we are called to be learners.
The Proverbs promises us: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6, ESV).
Jesus’ own parents kept true to this proverb and educated Jesus. They even took him to the temple when he was twelve years old. Luke’s Gospel tells us what little we know of Jesus’ childhood and early formation.
Luke’s Gospel tells us, “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52, ESV).
Jesus learned and and grew intellectually. Jesus grew in wisdom—applied knowledge. He also grew physically and in his reputation as someone who was knowledgeable. Jesus gained favor with his heavenly father and with the wisest of people around him.
Jesus also spoke of loving God with our mind—with our intellectual faculties.
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37, ESV).
As God’s children, we love God with our entire being—heart, soul, and mind. As followers of Jesus, we do not check our brains at the door—we engage our minds in worship to the glory of God. Our intelligence is a part of our expression of our love for God and our worship.
Like Jesus, may we learn and grow “in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man”, as we “love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.”
In Christ alone, Robbie
A Prayer For Education: “Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (#23, Book of Common Prayer, 1979).
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
