While countless parents are watching with anticipation as their children begin another year of schooling, let us take a moment to consider God’s perspective on education. He commands parents to diligently and properly train their children (Proverbs 22:6), and reminds children to heed instruction from their parents. “Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old” (Proverbs 23:22).
Moses received the best education that the Egyptian royal courts could provide. He became mighty in words and deeds, and was becoming a highly educated prince of the great Egyptian empire (Acts 7:22). Likewise, Isaiah was highly educated and became the political and religious counselor of the nation, serving several Judean monarchs (2 Chronicles 26:22, 32:32). Luke was not only an educated physician, but also an accomplished historian (Colossians 4:11, 14). The Apostle Paul is famous as one of the brightest young students of the law (Galatians 1:14).
Yet, for all of these men, their worldly education was only a precursor to the true education they would receive in God’s way. Without proper grounding in God’s way, even the finest worldly education is but vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
During the Millennium, even on those occasions when children may study outside the home, we can be sure that they will not be shipped off to overcrowded, dangerous, morally adrift or under-performing schools. Rather, they will be under the care of talented, dedicated, God-fearing teachers and administrators. Then, the entire educational system—and the entire society—will be guided by Christ and the resurrected saints according to God’s righteous law. The resurrected saints will also be “teachers” who will lovingly instruct, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:20–21).
As Dr. Meredith describes, “During the Millennium, teachers will know that their students are, with only the rarest exceptions, being trained well at home by both parents. So teachers will be confident in playing a role of supplementing what parents have done. There will be close communication and cooperation between parents and teachers, and between teachers and students.… For they will live in a society based upon the principles of the Creator, which will bring a depth of peace and prosperity and productiveness beyond anything man has ever known” (The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?, p. 29).
God expects parents to provide for the education of their children, exposing them to the spiritual and physical topics they will need for success in life. And, He expects children and young adults to diligently pursue their own education. Pursuing right education prepares us to more fully serve Him. And, most importantly, Christians must always remember that true education begins with the acknowledgment that there is a great Creator God, who is the source of all knowledge and all wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).