Buying Truth

How much does the truth cost? At what cost are we willing to obtain it?

“Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”  Proverbs 23:23 ESV

As I reflected on these words from Proverbs 23 this week, I considered how they fit with Christian education from the school’s perspective, the student’s perspective, and the parent’s perspective.

As a school, we are committed to the Bible as the source of all Truth. In every academic subject, in every conversation, and in every relationship, we seek to present the Truth. A Christian school is a costly ministry, but when the Truth is upheld, it is a price worth paying. It is also a big responsibility we have been given to communicate in “truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”

From the student’s perspective, the Truth is inexpensive. Our students are surrounded by the Truth at home, at school, and at church. Though the culture presents to them many falsehoods, most of them pay little to keep the truth. Their education in a small school may cost them the privilege of athletics or social status, but most are content where they are. Children of believing families must still “get” the Truth (the literal meaning of the word). They must be taught to value it and embrace it; they must choose to keep it. In a generation that is easily throwing away things that their grandparents and great grandparents valued, we must not let them also throw away the beliefs and values that have been held tightly.

As parents, we do not want our children to feel that their tuition is a burden, but maybe they need to recognize that the Truth they are taught does come at a cost. For parents, it is costly to have the Truth taught to their children at school. Parents who want their children taught more than math and reading are willing to pay the price for them to be taught with godly “wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”

As our culture makes the Truth increasingly more expensive, it will be increasingly important that we make God’s Truth and wisdom clear to the next generation and help them to love it. We believe that is why parents have chosen us to partner with them in educating their children, and we are privileged to come alongside proclaiming the Truth to this generation.