One common characteristic of the poor is that they don’t pay attention to education. (Don’t take this personally, I mean “generally”, not exclusively).
Their mindset is that education takes a long time to show results, and they need to see short-term benefits. Instead of letting their children study, it would be more practical to send them to work and earn some money. Plus, education costs money, so instead of wasting it on their children, they should spend it on themselves and enjoy it.
One of the characteristics of the poor is that they focus on the present and are not willing to invest in the future or pay the price to grow. They usually spend their money on consumption, even on luxuries, but are not willing to use their money on learning to grow in value. They don’t focus on their own education, nor do they focus on their children’s education. With such a vicious circle, they can’t get out of poverty for a long time.
One of the things that the three winners of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Economics mentioned in their research is that an extra year of education will increase the income by 9%. Of course we’re not sure if the 9% figure is universal everywhere, but the conclusion that the higher the education, the higher the income is likely to be, is still a certainty.
If education can change a person’s life, how much more can the Word of God change a person’s life.
Yet churches are obsessed with other things and do not properly focus on teaching the Word of God. The members are also ignorant and do not want to root themselves in God’s Word and practice God’s teachings in their lives. The “none of my business” attitude of churches and members is similar to the poor people’s lack of attention to education.
Ignorance is really scary. Not knowing that you are ignorant is even more terrifying.
Education can destroy poverty, and the Word of God can destroy spiritual poverty.
Education can change lives, and God’s Word can bring meaning to people’s lives.
Education can make a nation strong, and God’s Word can enable the church to fulfil its mission.
Education can benefit people, and God’s Word can bring abundant life.
Discipleship is to cultivate you in the Word of God so that your life can be changed