Our
education normally starts when we are about 3 or 4 years old with our
parents reading to us. If they do this regularly, we develop a love of
books and a love of learning which gives us a running start for school.
Elementary age through high school we develop basic skills in reading,
writing, math, science, and an introduction to things like history and
geography. A college degree demonstrates that we are willing and able to
learn.
The real indicator of success in life is a desire for continued education and life-long
learning. The government appreciates this fact to the point that we can
take a tax deduction for tuition, get cash back credit for college
expenses, and are allowed legitimate business deductions for continued
education costs.
Followers
of Jesus know that his full-time occupation was as a teacher. He taught
in synagogues, small groups, and spoke at large seminars and
conferences. Any place there were people willing to hear, he was willing
to teach.
Through
much of history, education was elusive and a mark of class distinction.
Now educational opportunities are available to everyone. Every
community of any size has a library and most of the world's knowledge is
available at our fingertips. All we need is an internet connection and a
device to connect.
The
internet age has proven that access to knowledge is not enough though,
we have to have a conscientious plan, a desire to learn, and wise
discernment.
One outstanding resource is Khan Academy.
Salmon Khan started tutoring his cousin in math and ended up developing
an online college with thousands of classes on a huge variety of
subjects available free of charge. I am currently taking a class on
World History and have Art History and Macroeconomics coming up. I am
really enjoying it.
Proverbs 2:10-12 says, "You will become wise, and your knowledge will give you pleasure. Your insight and understanding will protect you and prevent you from doing the wrong thing." Can't get any plainer than that.
