The Goal of Education

Education holds great value when we use it for good and give God the glory.

“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” (Proverbs 1:2-5, ESV)

Developing valuable knowledge

The first step to developing valuable knowledge is to carefully select learning tools that will help your child view the concepts they are learning through the lens of scripture so that your child upholds the morals and values revealed throughout the Bible. With these tools, you can help your children learn how to continually seek God’s guidance while they learn more about His creation through science, history, reading, and math. This will help your child see the practical and valuable application of his word throughout their daily lives. Equally as important is to help your child learn how to communicate clearly with others by sharpening their writing, spelling, and grammar skills.

Cultivating virtuous character

The first step to developing virtuous character is to celebrate the wonderfully unique way God designed each of your children. Embrace each opportunity that God reveals to tend to their weaknesses and strengths alike.

Tend to your children's weaknesses by pausing studies each time you see an opportunity to speak to their hearts about a struggle they are currently facing. And remember, while it can be frustrating to pause studies or household maintenance to address such issues as sibling rivalry, selfish behavior, or thoughtless actions, time spent tending to those important issues will cultivate relationship skills, thoughtfulness, and selflessness as they grow. These virtuous qualities will be some of their most valuable assets as they get married, become parents, or serve their community.

Tend to your children's strengths by complimenting them whenever they exhibit virtuous qualities. Teach them how to reach goals by breaking their goals into smaller steps, encouraging them to persevere as they proceed up the steps in order to reach their goal. Apply this goal-accomplishing strategy to help your child persevere through various stairways toward educational milestones and various levels of skillsets.

Honing interests and sharpening gifts

When you work alongside your children in their studies, continually ask God to reveal their individually unique interest and gifts. Then look for classes, organizations, and clubs that will give them more opportunities to explore their interests. Examples include Civil Air Patrol to strengthen leadership skills or provide flying opportunities. In our area, there are also programs that will teach kids trade skills (and sometimes give them the opportunity to earn certification ratings) in fields such as welding, construction, drone flying, AutoCAD, and baking.

Help your children discover how to use all they have learned

Perhaps the most important aspect of helping your children gain knowledge, develop virtuous character, and sharpen their gifts is to help your children seek out and identify ways in which they can pair all of it with compassion to better serve others and shine the light of God's love into other's lives.

Seek out opportunities where your children can showcase or strengthen their gifts through volunteering, internships, apprenticeships, or working.

In conclusion

Knowing that we are each purposefully and uniquely called and equipped makes a world of difference. Therefore, it is important to uphold the value of how wonderfully unique God created each individual.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, NIV)

Reassure your child that every call to serve is as important as the next whether it is serving food at a restaurant, answering calls of service as a police officer, or fulfilling the mission to educate and raise a child as a stay-at-home parent.

"But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." (1 Corinthians 12:18-20, NIV)

Education holds great value when we use it for good and give God the glory. Encourage your child to fulfill his unique calling as he joins forces with all who work together co-serving in God's vineyard.

-Yvonne Strachan

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