A recent episode of Nightline had a segment on the “culture of cheating” in college campuses. The primary focus was the alarmingly common practice of hiring someone else to do the research and writing of required course papers. It is reported that there are companies that offer this service. And many are willing to spend good money for their services. A video clip of one internet ad enticed prospective clients: “Do you really want to spend countless days and nights stuck working on your homework?… Luckily for you, though, we have the solution for your problems.” Really? Is homework a problem? Or is it a means to something good?
Sadly, such practice of letting someone else do the hard work for me actually robs me of the benefit that personal engagement provides. Sure, I may get a passing grade, maybe even a high grade. And I may pass the course with high marks. But what did I really gain personally from it? The TV program included an interview with one who used to make thousands of dollars writing papers for students—on such diverse fields of study as law, medicine, and psychology. When asked if he wished he hadn’t done it, his response: “Absolutely not. I don’t know if anybody in the world will trade with the kind of education that I was having.” He was getting paid to personally gain knowledge! And what did the students who paid him get? Just a grade on a piece of paper.
Those who go the “easier” route of cheating like this in school could easily develop the kind of character that will manifest itself in other areas of life. Not exempt is our own personal relationship with God. We become lazy with regard to becoming personally engaged in the matter of growing in our knowledge and our devotion to Christ. We become satisfied with hearing what others are learning and experiencing. We may even feel a little envy concerning their experiences with The Lord. But we are not willing to “do the research” and engage ourselves in the “hard work” of spending time with the Lord, reading and understanding Scripture, serving in the name of the Lord, following his leadership in our lives.
I am reminded of the wise men who went out of their way to seek the Savior King who was born that they might worship him. Their search took them about two years. And God blessed their efforts and guided them to Bethlehem. Scripture tells us “they were overjoyed” when they saw the guiding star, and when they found the place “they bowed down and worshiped” Jesus. King Herod, on the other hand, simply told these wise men to “go and make a careful search” and then to report back to him. He let others do the hard work; and he missed out on the blessing that the wise men received. (Of course, he had a hidden agenda about finding the child. But that’s another matter.)
This Christmas, make the decision to follow the way of the wise men. Seek the Lord … personally … and know the joy of reaping the fruit of your personal engagement with the Lord.
—Keith Y. Jainga