Daily Thought for Monday, August 29th

August 29, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part One – Basic Education

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Today’s Thought:

“Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.”  – Daniel J. Boorstin

Today’s Quotes:

“A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated.” – Horace Mann

 

Today’s Question

Have you considered it an imperative to: “Develop a passion for learning? If you do, you will never cease to grow.” –  Anthony J. D’Angelo

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Isaiah 1:17-20 & Proverbs 22:6

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“We don’t need no education. ” – Roger Waters (lyrics from ‘The Wall’)

This very statement by virtue of it’s bad grammatical structure, it’s use of double negatives and the sheer idiocy of it’s meaning serves to prove how desperately we need education and how imperative it is to our development and well being.  This is true not only intellectually speaking but spiritually speaking, as well.

One of the many problems we face in our world today is the breakdown, lack of and poor quality of the basic education that our children receive: Not only at school but in the homes too.  This is true of things like reading, writing and math; and equally true of character, virtue, morality and ethics.  Sadly, by in large, it seems we are failing the hope of our future by not providing them a sound and viable education, spiritually or intellectually.  (I understand this is not true in every situation and the degree of actual educations varies from child to child: but I don’t think any of us would doubt that overall something is missing somewhere.)

Sadly, this same truth transfers over into our churches too.  Far to many of God’s children are not being taught and trained in the truths and wisdoms of God’s word, for fear that we may offend their sensibilities or hinder their support of our endeavors.

In short, Education in America in the schools, the homes and the churches is not what it should be.

Jesus spent the majority of His ministry teaching.  That should be an indicator to us of just how important education is.

“  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” – The Bible (Matthew 11:29)

Learning cannot occur if no one is teaching.  And teaching is more than spouting facts or figures; it requires sharing experiences and personal examples; it requires demonstrating truth and modeling what is right, good and acceptable.

It has been said, “To teach is to touch a life forever.” – Anonymous 

We need people to touch our lives and we need to touch the lives of others with truth, with wisdom and with knowledge.

Every person has much to learn in a lifetime: but I also believe every person has much to teach in a lifetime too.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” –

2 Timothy 2:15

Today’s Prayer:

Father, teach me and then empower and enable me to teach what I have learned to others.