What does the Bible say about being a good student?

How can I be a good student?

If you are a young human being enrolled in public school, charter school, private school, or even homeschool, being a good student is your "job" right now. Because school is your job, it's important to follow the rules of your school as long as they do not cause you to sin against God. If your school requires you to be there at a certain time, then you should do your best to do so! If your teacher says to turn in an assignment by a certain day, then make sure you do it. If you're supposed to practice an instrument for orchestra or band, then get that into your afterschool schedule.

Of course, there are some days when home circumstances or a late bus or whatever will make you late or miss an assignment or practice through no fault of your own. God isn't going to be upset about that, and you will not have sinned against Him. But as an earthbound representative of Christ, it is important to try to be the best student you can be whenever it is in your power (1 Corinthians 10:31).

God calls all human beings to work—even if that work doesn't look like a normal 9-5 job. God did work in making the universe (Genesis 1:1-15), and His work is very good (Psalm 25:8; Ephesians 4:28; Genesis 1:31). He took pleasure in the outcome of what He had accomplished. He then put Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden to take care of it (Genesis 2:15). By this example, we know that God would like us to be productive in our lives. What we do on this earth should be done well, and our reward is the honor and satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

As a student, your "job" is to go to school, learn, and graduate.

Doing these things well have their own individual benefits (like a sense of accomplishment, improving upon your talents/skills, etc.), and they will be helpful additions to your experience as you move into the next phase of your life after school. Why is all this important to God? Here are the biblical reasons why we are to do well at our jobs:

1. Work is good for not only us, but also for others (Exodus 23:10-11; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Ephesians 4:28). The outcome of our good work can have far-reaching effects!
2. Work is a gift from God and a way that He can bless us (Psalm 104:1-35; 127:1-5; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 5:18-20). Proverbs 14:23 says, "In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty."
3. Work allows us to do what God has equipped us to do. God gives His people tools to do their work (Exodus 31:2-11). That is why He has put you in a situation where you CAN go to school and learn so that you can continue on in your life to be productive in the world.

Putting school near the top of your priority list is NOT ignoring God. (Just don't put it ALL the way at the top.)

Making school a priority is doing your best to do the task that God has put before you—learning and representing Christ where you are. The only way God would be disappointed in your trying to do well in school is if making your achievements became an idol or something you worship instead of God. That is, if you were so focused on winning awards or being the best in class that you began to hurt others' feelings or completely disregard anything the Holy Spirit says to you, then you will have become prideful about your status as a student (Proverbs 16:18), and that is a sin.

Is it a sin to get bad grades?

No, it's not a sin to get bad grades. We can't take our grades with us into Heaven, so in the end, those achievements mean nothing anyway (Ecclesiastes 2:21-23). Yes, grades are important right now in order to move onto the next step in school, but they aren’t everything there is to life or even to being a good student. Your heart, attitude, and motivations are what God is concerned about, and His deepest desire is to help you develop into Christlikeness (Matthew 6:19-34).

If you are not trying to put school achievements before God in any unhealthy way, then you're doing just fine. If you're struggling to learn the material or keep up with the homework, that doesn't make you a bad person. Talk to your teachers and parents for help, and develop a plan to get back on track in getting assignments done and turn things around. Maybe there's extra credit you could do or you could re-take a failed test. If struggles with mental health or mental illness are causing you troubles in school, remember that your parents, teachers, and school counselors are there to help you find solutions.

Doing your best to be a good student honors God and shows Him how much you desire to do what He has planned for this time in your life. Do your best and know that God will love you the same as always—no matter what your grades are!

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." —1 Corinthians 10:31

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