Loving Our NeighborsSample

Learning Lessons That Matter

Education matters to Jesus—not because He cares about our test scores or if we graduate from college, but because He cares about anything that helps His kids flourish. And in our world, education just so happens to be a primary way we gain access to opportunities. 

That’s why no two people will have the same experiences, but education can level the ground for growth. This is important because when people don’t have the same opportunities, we miss out on what they can offer. 

And if we want to love our neighbors as ourselves, we should seek to do whatever we can to provide them with opportunities we’d want for ourselves. And that’s the other benefit of education and learning. We don’t want to gain knowledge just for the sake of knowledge. 

Instead, our own education and learning opportunities should inspire us to grow in our love for others. Just look at how Jesus lived this out. 

Jesus called Himself “Teacher,” and He used His wisdom to show compassion to those around Him. In Mark 6, Jesus and His disciples were trying to go to a secluded place. However, when people saw Him, they flocked to Him.

Instead of being annoyed or frustrated by the crowd, Jesus was filled with compassion. And out of that compassion, He starts teaching them. This teaching was available for everybody who listened, which meant that nobody was superior to anyone else.

When we look at the educational systems around us, we’ll find some stark inequalities. We might have experienced this firsthand by having limited access to textbooks, schools with fewer teachers and crowded classrooms, or schools that were falling apart on the outside. Or maybe we’ve seen those situations affect people in different parts of our cities. 

When faced with these discrepancies, we have two choices. We can do nothing, or we can choose to take action. When we choose the latter, our compassion grows, our faith grows, and we can open the door for more of our neighbors to flourish and thrive. 

So think about some ways to start getting involved in education. Maybe it’s tutoring or mentoring kids in your community. Maybe it’s getting to know your school board or advocating for better schools in your community. Maybe it’s volunteering with an organization where you get to read to kids.

No matter what your next step is, when you find ways to help others grow, you might be shocked at how it will help you grow, too.

Pray: God, it’s clear that You care about my education. Please grow my wisdom and increase my love for others as I pursue equal opportunities for everyone. Use my own education to prepare me for Your calling on my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Challenge: Consider ways in which your education played a role in your life. How can you make sure that when you learn, you increase your love, not just your knowledge?