By Andrea Guachalla
What is it that you value in people? What makes you wanna spend time with them? What is it that you strive to be? A lawyer? A great scientist? A businessman? A millionaire?
It is good to go into undergraduate studies and further if you envision it will bring about opportunities and financial stability in the future. It is ok to want to have a successful business and earn a lot of money so you can invest in bigger projects. It is good to want to succeed in an academic career, or in a business project, there is nothing inherently wrong with any of that. However, there is a sinful tendency in us that makes us value those things more than we should.
To be a lawyer, or a successful scientist, or a renowned politician is fine. The issue comes when one lets their academic success or hierarchical position in a job dictate WHO they are and what their worth is. Yes, academic degrees and a good resumé are ok to have, but do they really mean anything in regards to what a person truly is in the eyes of God?
Academic degrees are not everything
I’m not sure if that is easier to say for someone who has earned one or more degrees or someone who doesn’t have any, but I say it as someone who graduated with a bachelor degree at age 21 and gained quite a bit of recognition for my work in research back in the day. One thing that got imprinted in my mind is that no amount of success or recognition could give me true joy, and nor can they give it to you. I assure you. We might like to think that we can make ourselves happy, great, and praiseworthy by doing more, achieving more, and earning more, but at the end of the day we know our value cannot rely on those things especially because they are fleeting, and they cannot give us ultimate purpose.
Pursuing a career might give you some skills, and knowledge, that’s true. You might be able to understand atoms to the smallest detail, or be able to explain the mechanism by which cancerous cells form, you might be able to build the greatest architectural pieces or paint the most beautiful paintings ever seen, but none of those things will change the way you are. Those things cannot teach you about life, or offer comfort in harsh times, academic knowledge and money cannot save you from condemnation, or make you a good person, or renew your mind, or lead you to be wise. Moreover, money and knowledge often cause the exact opposite: pride, self-centeredness, and vices. But you know what can renew you, and comfort you, and offer eternal life?
The Word of God
God doesn’t see us the way we see others, measuring their value according to how many cars they have, or which university they attended, or how knowledgeable their last name is. He sees his children as those whom He loved and for whom Christ laid his life. He sees us as children in need of guidance and wisdom that He himself offers in His word, and that’s all we need to know to realize how privileged (and undeserving of His love) we are.
Whereas humans value success and fame, God values obedience, humility and faithfulness, and that is exactly what we, too, should value as Christians. We must not succumb to this day and age and value the time people spend studying an undergrad or postgraduate program more than we value the time they spend in God’s Word and how they try to apply it.
We should not see people under the lense of what the world thinks it’s praiseworthy, nor should we hope people will adscribe to us a worth based on our achievements (or lack thereof). We should rather hope people will see Christ in us and praise Him for how He could change and use a wretched sinner like you and me to bring glory unto God. We should long for having brothers and sisters who will encourage us to be more humble, more faithful, and more obedient to God wherever we are regardless of what comes to pass.
