WHY STUDYING IS ACTUALLY GOOD

I don't really believe in regrets. I feel like even my mistakes are part of who I am now, and no matter the consequences, no matter the pain, having regrets won't fix them. Treating those mistakes as learning opportunities is the best way to atone for them.

I once wrote that "I'm young, but I'm so old", because knowing how much I have to learn and how far I have to go to be who I want to be, makes me feel very young. But yet the feeling that I should have started doing something about it, started learning, practising, trying things so much earlier; that makes me feel very old.

I'm still suffering from the consequences of my past mistakes, but no matter how I feel, it's never too late to start improving.

I didn't like to study in school. I loved to learn and I loved the subjects I was learning about, especially after high school. But when it came to the tests, I didn't see the point in memorising and practising a bunch of stuff for the sake of an exam, when in the real world you wouldn't use most of those, and if you needed to, you could just search it up or learn it on the spot. I preferred to spend my time on other things, mostly music and gaming. I was missing the point.

A year into full-time working life, I have come to realise that the mindset I had was not only wrong, but it was also a grave mistake. Something very cool in life is that while learning from your own mistakes is the most impactful, you can also learn from other people's mistakes, which typically saves you the pain and effort in the long run.

After reading this article, no matter how old you are (but it's mostly targeted at students, or parents / friends of students), I hope that you can learn from my mistakes. I hope to explain why studying is actually good.

First, the Bible commands work.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going."

Colossians 3:23 - "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,"

2 Thessalonians 3:8-13, and from verse 10 - "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."

The first 2 are referring to productive work and our roles in providing value to society, not EVERYTHING, so don't misquote it. Otherwise, it would mean that the moment you start any game or anything remotely competitive, you must "do it with all your might" and become world champion or something before being satisfied. No, in context, it means to do your best at fulfilling your duties, whether it be as a student, teacher, corporate worker, parent, etc.

We can see how this concept is essential to being a Christian. If you're not giving your best at your responsibilities, what are you doing with the excess effort? Would that be glorifying God?

Second, studying as a student is super important for everyone to get used to hard work. For most of us, we no longer live in a society where we need to toil in the fields or hunt to survive, and so it might be a lot easier to fall into a state of habitual laziness since our lives are not so evidently at stake.

I really suffered not being used to focus and work hard when I needed to get things done. Doing music as a hobby and full-time work are very very different, and not being more efficient and disciplined cost me dearly. Being able to focus on what needs to be done for extended periods of time is a very important skill that will serve you throughout life. As a student, your duty is to study for good grades to invest in your own future. The grades aren't that important. It's building discipline and productivity that is the real value of education.

Third, studying teaches you to do things you don't feel like doing.

Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) - "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Life is going to be tough. It's unreasonable and possibly delusional to expect a good life doing only what you feel like doing. And there's a very big difference between what you want and what you feel like doing. You should want to study hard. The difficult part is actually doing it when you don't feel like it. And training to do that will help you so much in the future. There are so many times I don't feel like working, but I have to. And I want to.

Last, it's about using your talents for God. Studying is the best way to prepare yourself for society and eventually use your talents to glorify God and further His work (as taught in Matthew 25:14-30). You'll realise that the values and discipline you learnt in school carry you through your business or work. 

In the end, studying isn’t just about grades. It's about preparing your heart, mind, and habits for a life that glorifies God. So let us for students and even us who are students of God’s Word, study hard.

Ask Yourself:

1. What should our attitude be when we work or study?

2. Why is studying important?

3. How may I make changes to my life so as to study better?

Suggested Answers:

1. Give it our utmost effort (Ecclesisates 9:10).

2. It is the best way to prepare a person for society and eventually use his/her talents to glorify God and further His work.

3. You may discuss with any Bible class teachers or brethren whom you are close with.a