Higher Education
As I was going through “grade school” at Knifley Elementary and then high school at Adair County High School, I wasn’t sure how much education I was getting. There is so much pressure on the social aspect of school that not as much “book learning” takes place. After graduation from High School I moved to Knoxville, TN as became a student at Johnson Bible College, now known as Johnson University Tennessee. I did learn a lot about the Lord and about myself. I learned even more about relationships and their importance. I met most all of my life-long friends at college. After 10 years of ministry, I enrolled in “West Georgia College (now knows as University of West Georgia” and began to study adolescent counseling. I feel like this degree brought a lot of my education together. It was a practical degree in that I could use the principles in my ministry and in my home life with three small children. I still have mixed feelings about the education system that I was part of. I see kids who after high school learn a trade and take off growing in life. Their “higher education” comes through the school of experience. Often the ones with the degree have the same teacher when they get on the job.
The book of Daniel starts out with them being taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and they were chosen because of their good physical appearance. The food they were given to eat went directly against their belief so the asked the person in charge to test them for 10 days and simply give them vegetables and water. After the 10 days were up, they looked healthier than the others. Check this out..
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. (Daniel 1:17-20 NIV)
The Lord provided a “higher education” for these 4 young men who became strategically placed in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. Their future was very bright and promising but their education came from the Lord who protected and provided for them.
I would rather go the Lord’s school of business first and then learn the other details later. The Lord has blessed my education and my work experience to lead me to where I am today. He uses all of my life in the past to educate for today.
Pressing On!
Dwayne