The list of choices for education and training grows longer every day. As Christian parents, how can we wade through the best options for each individual child’s education? The Bible actually has a lot to say about making choices for their education.
How do you choose the best education for your child?
- Keep the end goal in mind of training your child up in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not stray from it (Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4). Schooling and training for Christians should help them grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men (1 Samuel 2:26 and Luke 2:52). It should help them to fulfill God’s purposes for their lives of knowing Him and pointing others t
oward knowing Him. What choices for education will best help this particular child to grow and mature in relationship with Christ? It doesn’t matter what they do on this planet, if what they do comes before their relationship with God. - Let God be the one whose opinion is most important in your child’s decisions for education and training (Proverbs 3:5-6). If God has equipped your child and opened the doors for them to be a pilot for Him, but you want them to take over the family business, which is most important? Are you helping them to obey God and have His blessings or are you putting your desires before God’s?
- Help your child to see the gifts and talents that God has given them as well as the things that are difficult for them. Pray with, and for your child to have opportunities to use the gifts that they have been given in a life well lived for God. Also, pray for opportunities for your child to receive education that will help them grow and be equipped in areas of challenge. In our weakness He is the one who makes us strong and He is glorified through strengthening us (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Ignore cultural norms and let God choose the best education for your child!
Cast off cultural restraints and be willing to go against what seems normal (Romans 12:2). Daniel, Joseph, and Esther are just a few examples of people who through non-traditional ways God put in places of great leadership, with the platform to share of Christ with leaders of pagan cultures. Let God lead you and your child toward His plans for their learning and training. God knows whether the best place for each individual child’s education is an online school, a public school, a private school, homeschool, a seminary, on-the-job training, an apprenticeship, the military, a college etc.
To read more about some different types of education check out the link below:
About the Author
John Willoughby is a life-long learner dedicated to not just teaching students but helping them become permanent members of a lifelong learner journey. He believes that students need to be empowered to be learners. John has been teaching for the past 19 years both in the United States as well as overseas. His subject focuses have been social studies and technology. John has taught a variety of advanced placement courses as well as college preparatory courses.
John has a Masters in Education from the University of Illinois. He has also been head of Department for Social studies and Head of Professional Development for an online school based out of Oxford, England.
