What Will Get You Further: Your Gifts or Education?

Go to school. Get your degrees. Get a good job. Live happily ever after. This is a powerful narrative that permeates society. But is it true? Many believe that simply by excelling in school (getting good grades, building a strong resume, etc.) you will punch your golden ticket for success in life. Very few people challenge this narrative, and when they do, they are ridiculed as being foolish. Well, let me risk losing face by asking and assessing the question, “What will get you further: Your gifts or education?”

As a matter of fact, the Bible composes a compelling argument in favor of gifts. Romans 11:29 tells us that God gives us our gifts, and they are with us whether we use them or not. God will not take our gifts back, they’re given freely. Moreover, in Proverbs 17:8 the Bible tells us that we need to polish and refine our gifts. Similar to finding a diamond in the rough, one has to polish and then set the stone before it will net a lot of money. The gifts God freely gives us are like a diamond in the rough. Pastor Bill Winston says there is a five step process in refining your gifts. First, you begin at a level of incompetence where you make many mistakes. Second, after much practice you move to competence where you’re proficient at your gift, but still have much room for growth. Third, you reach excellence as your gift allows you to excel past your peers. Fourth, your gift develops to the point of unique ability where people begin to recognize your talent. Finally, you reach giftedness once the world begins to notice you. At this stage, this is where Proverbs 18:16 takes hold as your gift brings you before great men.

But God will not only give you your gifts. Psalm 37:4 says that God will give you your desire in terms of how to use your gifts. Not only will God give you your desire, but Psalm 37:23 tells us He will give you direction and tell you where to go so that you will reach your promised land. Basically, God already crafted a plan for you and your gifts. We have to bear in mind that He our gifts are intended for service to God and mankind.

So what’s the point of education? Education serves to draw out your gifts. If you visualize primary school to graduate school as a pyramid with primary school being the base and graduate school being the tip, then you can see that your education goes from being very broad to very narrow. Why is this? Because in primary school through maybe your first or second year in college you don’t know your gifts or how you want to use them. So, you receive a broad education designed to allow you to figure out your gifts while giving you a solid foundation in several disciplines to build upon. However, the goal is for you to eventually discover your gifts and how you want to use them, which is why graduate school is highly specialized.

For some of us, we may discover that we don’t need advanced degrees to draw out our gifts. The world is filled with people whose gifts brought them to greatness without receiving a master’s degree or bachelor’s degree. People such as Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Lebron James, Jay-Z, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, and others do not have Ph. Ds, master’s, and in some cases bachelor’s degrees, but they all reached a level of giftedness where they can have an impact on society.

In my opinion, when it comes to school your goal should simply be to find your gifts, desire, and direction, and then see how education can help guide you. Some of you may need advanced degrees if you feel led to go into academics, law, science, and other fields that demand high levels of formal education. Others may discover that a bachelor’s or diploma is sufficient. Wherever God leads you, just bear in mind that your education is not your source. Your level of education does not determine how far you can go. God’s gifts and how you use them determine your altitude.