With 21 post-graduate units in theology and a semester of teaching in college, I am acutely aware of the dangers of what-is-called “higher education.”
Several times in the Scriptures, the Lord mentions the fact that an abundance of or excessive reliance upon worldly education can actually be a hindrance to entering into the Kingdom. The beginning words of the Lord’s teaching on the Mount began with the blessing on “the poor in spirit.” According to Strong’s Concordance this phrase means “destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture which education affords.” God said He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to naught the intelligence of the intelligent (1 Cor. 1:19).
Please do not misinterpret my comments as “anti-intellectualism.” The mind is an essential part in faith: Paul says we are to grow in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). And Jesus told us to love God "with all our mind” (Matt. 22:37). The challenge to each of us is to be a diligent student of the Word (2 Tim. 2:15) so we may attain a truly "higher" education.
Dear Greg, how timely your posting! I've got to a point in my life that I've realized how much I'm lacking in wisdom, so I've just gone to the Scriptures for serious learning in this area. I am starting at level 1. I know that only the Lord can provide for me the wisdom and help I need to properly navigate in this life. One gets tired of not being able to make right decisions. As with any other area in our lives, the Lord drives us to the point of desperation, when it is highly evident that we need to learn from Him, and learn well. I've just started but I've discovered beautiful things.
ReplyDeleteJob 28:12 says:" But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" Now, we know that Christ was made for us wisdom, so it is only found in Him.
The word in Hebrew for wisdom is"chokmâh". "The Word Study of the Old Testament" says that true wisdom leads to reverence for the Lord. Therefore skeptics will never find this kind of wisdom, and they will never know the true meaning of life. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8).
It is remarkable that in the Old Testament, the Lord filled people with His Spirit to do all sorts of wormanship, to those that were wise hearted, meaning to those that reverenced and fear the Lord, and were humble. Exodus 28:3, 31:3, 6.
What a wonderful treasure still to be discovered: His wisdom
they are 'unsearchable,' meaning there is no bottom, no end. Thanks for sharing your insight with us.
ReplyDeleteGreg