Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Kids Education


2 Chronicles 17:5
The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.

Even before I got married, I already accepted the fact that husbands would rather not have long talks afterwork. And so, last night was one of those special times. Especially because it was his initiative. His opener was ‘What are those things you wish we could have as a family?’  Dreamily, I blurted out more eat outs and vacation trips. That’s a homemaker talking after a tiring day. Then our conversation moved to really ‘settling down’, meaning having a house of our own. More maths followed ‘til we both agreed our kids' education is priority one. Reality bites, hahaha :>

But is education important really? Even our government allotted the biggest slice of its 2012 budget to the DepEd. Is it for advancement? For security? For stability? In his third year in office, we can read that King Jehoshaphat sent five princes, two priests and nine Levites throughout Judah for one purpose: to educate the people with the Book of the Law. Unlike today where the church and state have different handbooks, Israel then, had but one. One book for all matters of faith and practice. From government to neighbor issues, to sanitation and real estate - - name it! They all had it there. It was but wise for Jehoshaphat to do that given the benefits of education to nation-building. But was it his move that made his kingdom established and the surrounding nations giving him peace? Verses 5 and 10 noted it was all God’s hand.

So what role did education play in all these? Why the effort to read and teach - - the Bible at most - - if it has no direct bearing in life’s successes? Then I remember how my C.E. teacher asked us in class what’s the other verb in the Great Commission?  ‘Teach’ she said. But what follows is the make or break of it all. Oftentimes what we aim to do as parents and teachers is to equip our kids with everything they need to know in life.  But it wasn’t what the verse said. Jesus said ‘Teach them TO OBEY everything I have commanded you’.  God blessed Jesoshaphat because he walked in His ways, not because he knew His ways. Being well-versed alone was what the Pharisees did. Not a good career path for our kids right? So maybe the next time we contemplate on what’s best for our families, let’s move from providing them with good education to making them obey God first. (And make sure we’re doing it ourselves :>)
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Kids Education


2 Chronicles 17:5
The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.

Even before I got married, I already accepted the fact that husbands would rather not have long talks afterwork. And so, last night was one of those special times. Especially because it was his initiative. His opener was ‘What are those things you wish we could have as a family?’  Dreamily, I blurted out more eat outs and vacation trips. That’s a homemaker talking after a tiring day. Then our conversation moved to really ‘settling down’, meaning having a house of our own. More maths followed ‘til we both agreed our kids' education is priority one. Reality bites, hahaha :>

But is education important really? Even our government allotted the biggest slice of its 2012 budget to the DepEd. Is it for advancement? For security? For stability? In his third year in office, we can read that King Jehoshaphat sent five princes, two priests and nine Levites throughout Judah for one purpose: to educate the people with the Book of the Law. Unlike today where the church and state have different handbooks, Israel then, had but one. One book for all matters of faith and practice. From government to neighbor issues, to sanitation and real estate - - name it! They all had it there. It was but wise for Jehoshaphat to do that given the benefits of education to nation-building. But was it his move that made his kingdom established and the surrounding nations giving him peace? Verses 5 and 10 noted it was all God’s hand.

So what role did education play in all these? Why the effort to read and teach - - the Bible at most - - if it has no direct bearing in life’s successes? Then I remember how my C.E. teacher asked us in class what’s the other verb in the Great Commission?  ‘Teach’ she said. But what follows is the make or break of it all. Oftentimes what we aim to do as parents and teachers is to equip our kids with everything they need to know in life.  But it wasn’t what the verse said. Jesus said ‘Teach them TO OBEY everything I have commanded you’.  God blessed Jesoshaphat because he walked in His ways, not because he knew His ways. Being well-versed alone was what the Pharisees did. Not a good career path for our kids right? So maybe the next time we contemplate on what’s best for our families, let’s move from providing them with good education to making them obey God first. (And make sure we’re doing it ourselves :>)