Originally published in the Midwestern Magazine, Issue 36
In his book Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper infamously warned senior adults not to waste their retirement years by collecting sea shells.
While students who attend a Christian college or seminary are not likely to waste their college days collecting sea shells, there are other activities that threaten to drain their energy and steal their time. Social media, friends, video games, and a host of other things are always waiting to distract Christian students from their studies on a regular basis. What a tragedy for students to gain a large following on social media in college, develop many friendships, go on multiple dates, master certain video games, and yet neglect their studies and fail to prepare adequately for ministry! So how do students make the most of their time in college or seminary? Let me suggest three ways students can maximize their studies and avoid wasting their Christian education.
Prioritize Personal Devotions
College students are busy. They take classes. They work. They maintain a social life. Yet they must ensure they do not become too busy to consistently read their Bibles and pray. Religious instruction at a Christian institution cannot and should not substitute for personal piety and devotion. A vibrant devotional life is key to spiritual health, and college students cannot afford to neglect this foundational component of their Christian life.
A vibrant devotional life will not happen accidentally, though. Students attending Christian colleges and seminaries must commit to reading their Bibles and praying regularly, and they must manage their calendars to reflect this commitment. Intentionally plan time to study God’s Word and pray. Write it on the calendar. Set a reminder on your phone. Whatever you do, make sure you prioritize personal devotions.
Commit to a Local Church
The local church is not simply an option for Christians; it is a necessity. Corporate worship, real community, and church discipline are essential for the Christian life. College students are not an exception; they need the body of Christ. This is true of every college student, but it is particularly true of students who move away from home to attend a Christian college.
Students who attend a Christian university or seminary still need the worship, community, and discipline of a local church in order to flourish. The church is essential for their spiritual growth, and the church provides a context for them to serve and begin to implement their newly-acquired knowledge and skills. Bottom line: every Christian college and seminary student needs the local church for personal spiritual growth and ministry experience. Find a good church. Join it. Attend it. Serve it. Commit to a local church.
Love God with Your Mind
Christian education provides students with an opportunity to fulfill part of the Great Commandment by loving God with all their mind (Matthew 22:38-40). Students attending Christian institutions should view their academic journey, not merely as a time to accumulate knowledge, but as an opportunity to love God with their whole being, and especially with their mind. Approached this way, college and seminary become vital contributors to the spiritual formation of students.
Let me hasten to add that Christian education is not merely an intellectual endeavor. As students engage their minds in theology and church history and biblical interpretation and a host of other studies, their hearts should be stirred to love God and serve Him. Studying at a Christian university or seminary should stretch the mind and enlarge the heart. So, commit to academic excellence. Love God with all your mind.
It is possible to make the most of your college and seminary years. Yes, a host of things will always be lurching, waiting to distract you from your studies. Yet it’s possible to maximize your time in college and graduate well-equipped for life and ministry. Establish a consistent devotional life. Join a solid local church. Commit to academic excellence to the glory of God. Make the most of your studies. Whatever you do, don’t waste your Christian education.
