How much is an education worth?

Well – depending on your degree, you could determine it’s worth by how much it cost….

or you could subtract the cost of the education from the average potential wages over the planned future 40 years, and determine that as the worth.

Or you could sit in a very intellectual conference, where every session talks about ‘credibility’ and ‘what” and “where’ your degrees – plural – are from.

Let’s not discuss that C S Lewis is NOT the place to discuss non-fiction, life story Bible studies.

In the CS Lewis world, there is fiction, and then highly intellectual non-fiction.  The authors speaking about CS Lewis can quote him almost book, chapter and verse.  What happens when these people that carry on intelligent conversations with me find out that I am only a high school graduate?

Whenever I talk to someone that oozes degrees, I tend to point out that I had a full ride to OSU for art and music, but refused it for lack of self-esteem.  In an attempt to let them know that I was acceptable for college intelligentsia, I sort of make myself out to be a total fool!  On the other hand, when I carry on a graduate level conversation, I often feel like I am hiding something, and I wonder what will they think when they find out.  Well, from experience, I know what they will think when they find out.  I don’t hear from them, or at least, I am spoken to with condescension, like a doctor speaks to a mother that is certain the child’s sick and needs attention.  The mother KNOWS her child, but often acquiesces to the doctor’s medical degrees.

• I KNOW I don’t need a degree to preach the word of God.
• I KNOW I don’t need a degree to have compassion on widows, fatherless, abused, downtrodden and poor.
• I KNOW I don’t need a degree to experience God in everyday life.
• I KNOW I don’t need a degree to move mountains with prayer.

What I don’t know is that I can get published without a degree,

…that I could be taken seriously without a degree,

…that my story would be able to get to those who need it, without a degree.

I don’t even know if anyone would read something I wrote, if I do not have degrees behind my name on the cover of the book.

The CS Lewis foundation has just announced the opening of the college. I think it was created so more people can study the Word through the great books of CS Lewis and those types.  But I am having enough of a time studying the Word of God!  Yes, I know, I need to read more books, and the right books.  If this ministry is for those that probably would never read some of those very intellectual books is that where my focus should be?  Should I be looking at obtaining a doctorate degree so that I can say I am taught in these areas, so that I can tell my story, that I have NOW, without all the college stuff mixed in?

Why do I feel that I have to hide something about me? Why do I feel that I need to let people know that at one time, I was thought good enough to attend college?  Why can’t my yes be yes, and my no be no?

Why can’t I be judged by the character of my life’s wisdom, and not by the years gathering useless information?  Why do we each have the need to describe ourselves by something, or someone to make us better than we sound?

1 Cor 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Paul is talking to folks like me that are trying to make themselves than what they are.  The theme for this ministry is Engrafted into the Vine to produce Eternal Fruit, as applied through John 15.

Paul goes on to say:

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have planted, Apollos watered; bug God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Cor 3:5-7

Some have talents, some have education, some have great voices, some have great ears.

I am thrown into 1 Cor 12 – when Paul is talking about giftings…right before he preaches about LOVE!

1 Cor 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

What is that more excellent way? Faith, Hope and Love…no clanging brass or tinkling cymbal.

Knowledge puffeth up, but wisdom is to be sought, in the light of the Lord.  We all are workers in God’s vineyard. (1 Cor 3:9)

This weekend, it was a joy to meet those with high degrees of education, but even higher degrees of love, compassion, hope and faith.  For when the foundation of all is Christ Jesus, we all stand level at the foot of the cross, and we all rejoice in His coming again.

I am who God created me to be.  He is not surprised by my lack of education.  And still, He calls me.  And while I have self doubts, the challenge is to let go of those doubts and trust in the one that promises to give anyone wisdom, if I just ask.

James 1: 5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

Isn’t that the gist of it?  I have been driven by the wave of the sea, tossed to and fro with the wind, because I have not settled this, and planted my feet solidly on the foundation of who I am in Christ.

Again – another journey away from the effects of my past, and into the Kingdom of His dear son.

Thanks for joining me!

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I will sing in the shadow of your wings.

Bible references were taken from http://www.blueletterbible.org

Copyright Info for KJV

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV) 1611, 1769

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