Education is for man an important tool in his life upon the earth. During his life he acquires knowledge to accomplish the professional or non-professional goals. Our social standards are often measured on terms of educational achievements. The accessibility to the social depends upon education. As much as the society advances, education becomes more and more a central factor.
In an era of information, education is essential for the proper social communication. The advancement of science and its applications makes technology available to make use of things that science brings into our life. How diverse is our life today compared with the past. The simple life that man was used to seems no longer acceptable in our modern society.
What is education, and how do we acquire it? It is based on learning and wisdom, and has existed since the beginning of man. To know is primordial to man since his creation. He was given the privilege to know God and. Also, he was in his freedom allowed to chose between right and wrong, God having placed in the Garden of Eden the tree of the knowledge of "good and evil" (Gen. 2:9). Man was given the commandment "not to eat" of this tree; if not he would die. In this not following this commandment, man transgressed before God because he did eat, with the serpent's cooperation, and he lost his place from the Garden of Eden.
For the Christian, education has threefold meaning. One in the literal sense, the acquisition of the knowledge of this world, the knowledge about God, and the knowledge of God, the personal experience of God. The knowledge of God is the most important. Even the unlearned can have it: "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast heed these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto the babes" (Matt. 11:25). The icons are the books of the unlearned.
The learning that we acquire on this life is perfected in the life after death in communion with God. In learning, we need wisdom. The Apostle James wrote in his Epistle: "If any of you lack of wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given to him" (James 1:5). "For the Lord giveth wisdom, out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. . . " (Prov. 2:6) ". . . to the acknowledgement of the mysteries of God, and of the Father and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:2-3).
