Who are the really educated ones?

Compare a learned man to an uneducated one. The former is literate, cultured, rich in knowledge, and receives systematic education. The latter, on the other hand, has no privilege to education or whatsoever alike, maybe due to poverty; not trained in any universities or schools of learning, and could look uncivilized. Yet, why does it seem that the learned man is slower at understanding the things of God than the unlearned one?

Perhaps we, the learned ones, are putting too much trust in education. We think that education and knowledge is the key to solving all our problems, be it health-related, business-related, or social issues. Many even believe that education is the key ingredient to successful living, for it helps us gain wealth and fame, beauty and material things. But, in reality, we are actually educating ourselves further and further away from God.

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not against education. I try to help kids understand that education is good and important so that they can be encouraged to learn. However, education alone cannot help us gain the real life of love, joy, peace, and freedom, which only Jesus can offer. Plus, we can be the most refined and knowledgeable people in the world, and yet be in fact foolish, if we choose to ignore His truths.

In the eyes of God, the "better-educated people" are perhaps the ones who grasp Him more easily and closely. They may be illiterate, uneducated, uncultured, or simply unsuccessful in the eyes of the world, but they are truly the wise, educated and successful ones because they know Him.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ~ Romans 1:21-22

Technically vs. Biblically

Technically, there is nothing wrong with watching 8 hours of TV during holidays.

Technically, there is nothing wrong going on a twosome escapade with your boyfriend/girlfriend.

Technically, there is nothing wrong with investing money in stock markets.

Technically, there is nothing wrong with an unmarried man and woman living together all by themselves in the same house.

Technically, there is nothing wrong with occasional smoking or gambling. It’s bad if you get addicted to them, but if it’s simply once in a blue moon, or a one-time thing, technically, there’s nothing wrong.

…and so the list can go on.

As God’s children, perhaps we should stop assessing our actions ‘technically’, and start assessing them ‘biblically’. For although ‘technically’ is meant to help us reason and assess according to facts, our facts may sometimes be wrong, thus unreliable. ‘Facts’ may look and sound, plus even feel right at times, but Satan may be deceiving us by distorting what we think is true and right. On the other hand, ‘biblical’ terms are always reliable since they are based on what God says. They also drive us to deeply consider our every action, thoughts and word; right to their very core- our motives, purpose and intent.

"Everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others…So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" ~ 1 Cor 10:23-24; 31.

Can we truthfully say that watching 8 hours of TV or going on a twosome holiday is constructive? Can we honorably smoke or gamble for the glory of God? Can we in our good conscience ask God to bless our investment in stock markets? Have we considered our actions not only in relation to our self and God, but also in relation to their influences on the people around you- your family, friends, and public?

If our sincere desire is still to honor Him with our bodies, we need to be evaluating our lives biblically, and be truly honest (with God and ourselves) when doing so.

The friends of the paralytic man

I’ve read and heard about the story of Jesus healing the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) umpteen times, but for the very first time today, I saw the story from a different viewpoint, one which I never did before. Quite interestingly, it was the children in my classroom who helped me see this story anew. This happened as I was retelling the story to them.

At interval times, I would pause and ask the children to imagine themselves in the story- to visualize the feelings or thoughts of the paralytic man, four men and the crowd. Now, I’ve never imagined myself as one of the four men who brought the paralytic man to Jesus, but the kids were very good at it. And as they were sharing their thoughts and feelings, I began to see the love and amazing faith these four men had.

The Bible didn’t say whether these men were friends or relatives to the paralytic. Nevertheless, whether as a friend or relative, these men showed that they truly cared for the paralytic and had faith that Jesus would make him walk again. Having seen that there was no way they could get the paralytic to Jesus upon their arrival, due to the large crowd around the house, they could have just gone back and said “Let’s come back again another day”, or “Let's just forget it”.

Yet, they did not. They did not give up so easily. They went to the extreme by opening the roof of the house and lower their friend down slowly when it wasn’t even their house!! They were willing to bring his friend to Jesus at any cost.

At this point, it makes me kind of wonder if I demonstrate such faith and love towards my friends too. Do I do whatever it takes to bring my loved ones to Jesus? Sometimes I try to, but not always. I know that there are still times when I would rather be a passive Christian who need not do ‘weird’ things. Coz’ then I won’t have to fear rejection or risk being laughed at by people.

For this, I ask for Your forgiveness and grace to help me be a passionate follower of you, dear Lord.