“For to me to live is Christ.” Philippians 1: 21a

More than once, I have heard this rhetoric “Your academics is the primary reason you are in school.” The purpose of the statement is to charge students to focus and take their academics serious. While I do not doubt the good intentions of these speakers, I sense a misplacement of priority in the lives of Christian students! The other side of the coin is that students learn some values on the campus, many times not-Christian, and apply them in addressing life issues even after graduation. For us as Christian youths, there ought to be a balance of seeing academics as a platform to live out your Christian values and showcase the goodness of Jesus Christ to your course-mates, and others in the school community – not just studying to earn good grades.

Losing my dad was traumatic for me as a student. The motivation that pushed me in school came crashing. “What was the use of studying and working hard if I could die anytime (even as a student)?” I thought. Thank God, He graciously gave me a meaning to life – living not for myself but for Him who loved and died for me (2 Corinthians 5:15)!

This is the impact of the Gospel. By Christ’s death, we are offered an everlasting hope of eternal life. For this purpose, we can choose to lay down our lives and live fully for the Glory of God -- whether as students or not (1 Corinthians 10:31). This spurs us to hard work and excellence - not because of becoming “great,” rather, as an expression of worship to God (Romans 12:1-2) and reverent fear of Him (1 Peter 1:17)!