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“According that a Man Hath”
God can and will use those who have not had a thorough edu-
cation in the schools of men. A doubt of His power to do this is
manifest unbelief. Our Saviour did not ignore learning or despise
education, yet He chose unlearned fishermen for the work of the
gospel because they had not been schooled in the false customs and
traditions of the world. They were men of good natural ability and
of a humble, teachable spirit, men whom He could educate for His
great work.
In the common walks of life there is many a toiler patiently
treading the round of his daily tasks, unconscious of latent powers
that, roused to action, would place him among the world’s great
leaders. The touch of a skillful hand is needed to arouse and develop
those dormant faculties. It was such men whom Jesus connected
with Himself, and He gave them the advantages of three years’
training under His own care. No course of study in the schools of the
rabbis or the halls of philosophy could have equaled this in value.
A life devoted to God should not be a life of ignorance. Many
speak against education because Jesus chose uneducated fishermen
to preach the gospel. They assert that He showed preference for
the uneducated. But there were many learned and honorable men
who believed the teaching of Christ. Had these fearlessly obeyed
the convictions of their consciences, they would have followed Him.
Their abilities would have been accepted and employed in the service
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of Christ, had they offered them. But they had not moral power, in
face of the frowning priests and jealous rulers, to confess Christ and
venture their reputation in connection with the humble Galilean.
He who knows the hearts of all understood this. If the educated
and noble would not do the work they were qualified to do, Christ
would select men who would be obedient and faithful in doing His
will. He chose humble men and connected them with Himself, that
He might educate them to carry forward the great work on earth
when He should leave it.
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