The following post was written by Andy McLean, editor of The Gospel Project for Students
There’s no doubt that with every generation there comes a new sense of busyness and activity that is usually greater than the one before it. Whatever the causes may be, it just seems apparent that with each new decade there comes with it more things to fill our lives with. And the increase of things within our lives usually translates into a decrease of the available time we have within our schedules.
Take students for example. In one sense, students today are busier than those of a previous generation. While there’s no doubt that much of their time could be redeemed and repurposed for other things, they do often have a lot on their plate. But in light of this new norm, how do we reason with our students, as well as ourselves, that we should prioritize our time, schedules, and our lives around God’s Word? Why, in the midst of the ever-increasing demands of life, should we place God’s Word at the center of it all? Let me suggest at least three ways as to why we should value time in God’s Word, showing why it is important for students both now and for their future.
- Scripture is valuable and of immediate relevance because it grounds students in the biblical worldview. Our students today, just like in every generation, are faced with competing belief systems vying for their allegiance. However, this reality is somewhat amplified for today’s younger generation in light of the information age in which they live – by one click of the mouse or one touch on the smartphone, students can have massive exposure to worldviews that generations before them never faced.
- Scripture helps students understand their individual story in light of God’s larger Story. Because it can be incredibly difficult for students to rightly understand issues surrounding their identity – who they are, why they were created, and the purpose for their existence – they desperately need a word from God explaining these issues.
- Scripture leads to a life that hates and avoids sin, while loving and pursuing that which is good. We see this clearly demonstrated in what the psalmist declared when he prayed, “I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Thus, the connection between avoiding sin and pursuing that which is good hinges upon whether our students hide and internalize God’s Word within their hearts. It is in the process of renewing one’s heart and mind with the gospel that one is able to recognize the deceitfulness of sin, that it is unsatisfying in the long run, and that a life with God is far more enjoyable than anything this world has to offer.
