IN PURSUIT OF HIGHER LEARNING
Being present at a graduation
ceremony regardless of what level of education, is a thrilling and exhilarating
experience, especially if you personally or someone very close to you is on the
verge of becoming a graduate, and better yet graduating with high honors, or a
recipient of a reward. Every graduation is a mile stone, an achievement in
higher learning, and a momentous occasion.
The greatest concern however is
that, people are not as exuberant, zealous, and enthusiastic in pursuing a
higher learning in the spiritual aspect of life as they do for the physical
mundane life. Apparently, it has not yet dawn on the mind of many people that
there is definitely and practically a life in the flesh, and a life in the
spirit.
I have no qualm about anyone
seeking to improve his/her lot in life by raising their standard of education,
thus enabling them to earn a better salary and improve their living conditions.
As the common saying goes, “If you think knowledge is expensive, then try
ignorance.” Ignorance I believe plays a major role in the plight of human
misery. The Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because
you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me” (Hosea
4:6).
A heavy prize to pay for ignorance.
The serious concern is, the seemingly total neglect, and absent mindedness of
persons to pursue a higher learning in the life in the spirit as they pursue
that of the flesh.
In reality, the same emphasis which
is placed in pursuing a higher degree of learning in the physical realm in
order to gain recognition, fame, and material gains, should also be placed in
attaining a higher plateau in the spiritual life, because in the final analysis
the life in the spirit is everlasting and far superior than the life in the
flesh.
The apostle Paul wrote: “I am
speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you
once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so
now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification” (Romans
6:19).
Similarly, the members of the human
body can be used to either promote the growth and development of the human
life, or promote the growth, and development of the life in the spirit. There
is wisdom of men –the wisdom of this age; which is doomed to pass away, and
there is wisdom of the Spirit which endures to everlasting life.
In every aspect of life, the main
objective is of paramount importance. The objective of Higher learning in the
physical realm is to improve the quality and conditions of life, and to attain
material gains. Unfortunately, human wisdom and all its material gains are
fleeting and temporary, and worse of all, “Those who desire to be rich fall
into temptation, into a snare, into many foolish and harmful desires that
plunge them into ruin and destruction” (1Timothy 6:9).
Many people after their graduation
are under severe stress to repay their student loans, and even after they have
succeeded in paying it off, may not even live long enough to enjoy the fruit of
their labor. The reality of the whole situation is, we should all take heed and
beware of covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of
his possessions. And even if one is successful and fortunate enough to have
his/her heart’s content, and can say to his/her soul, Soul, you have ample
goods, a good pension plan laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink,
be merry; There is the likelihood that God may say to this individual, “You
Fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get
what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:19-20)
In light of this therefore an
appeal goes to all those who have the fear of God in them to shun this
perspective and objective of higher learning. Do not be conformed to the ideals
of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, in order to test
and approve what is God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.
If money is the rationale and main
objective in pursuing higher learning, then one should seriously take heed to
the Apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy which states, “For the love of money
is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered
from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs” (1Timothy
6:10).
In pursuing a higher learning, a Godfearing individual should, shun the desire to be rich, and the love of money by which men fall into temptation, into a snare, and into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction, and aim at the things that are truly worthwhile and re-assuring.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
