Richer at the End of Each and Every Day

Rev. Paul Zabel

by Paul Zabel

“Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that has it: but the correction of fools is their folly. The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips” (Proverbs 16: 22-23).

Every Fall, thousands upon thousands of students head back to class in our elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. Warning notices are constantly announced and displayed “to drive carefully” as children walk, ride their bikes, or board buses to be taken to the schools every morning and brought back home every afternoon.

Once the students arrive at their schools, the teachers are there not only to greet them, but also to inspire and direct them as they learn. They still teach using traditional means—blackboards and examinations, for example—but also with modern technology, using computers and iPads which in some cases are even provided to the students by the schools they are attending. Education is truly a wonderful thing that provides our boys and girls—and men and women—the opportunity to learn the things that will help them to not only provide a living for themselves and their loved ones, but also to be able to contribute to society in any number of meaningful ways.

But truly great educators agree that real education must begin at the centre. We must teach those who are attending our schools not only how to make a living, but also how to live. It is strange to discover that many adults with years of schooling and experience behind them still have not learned the real secret of living. They may be successful businessmen and tradesmen, capable secretaries and housewives, or whatever their chosen vocations might be, but with so many there is an absence of the things which are worthwhile and living and lasting.

Do you remember that old adage, “We learn something new every day?” It is still an appropriate thing to aspire to. It is well for us to set as one of our goals “to be richer at the end of each day”—richer not only in terms of facts and figures, but more importantly richer in the treasure that really counts. Each day we should spend time to learn more of the wisdom of God. There must be times set aside from our busy schedules to talk to God so that we may be reassured by His promises and directed by His commandments.

Each day we should spend time to learn more of the wisdom of God. There must be times set aside from our busy schedules to talk to God so that we may be reassured by His promises and directed by His commandments.

Each one of us can make attempts to make our lives more successful but only the Master can make our lives worthy of eternity. It is He who, when sin separated us from Him, gave His very own Son to die on the cross that we might be brought back to Him—and not only receive the assurance that we have been forgiven, but also the joyful knowledge that we have the richest treasure there is: belonging to Him.

Every day we find ourselves in the classroom of life. May we ever let the Master be our teacher. He will lead us in the pathway of faith and along roads of loving service to Him, to those members of our families and our friends whom He has placed into our lives, and to those with whom God has given us the opportunity to witness our faith to in our everyday lives. May you and I find ourselves “richer” at the end of each and every day.

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Rev. Paul Zabel is President of the East District of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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