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In our part of Sydney quite a lot of Chinese Christians study at university.

And in our part of Sydney there is quite a good university with a good range of courses. It’s very close by, and has good transport links. And not only that, there are many mainland Chinese students at this university, making it an excellent choice for the purposes of befriending and sharing Jesus with fellow students.

However over the years as I have gotten to know Christians in this region, I’ve noticed that the university that Chinese Christians tend to go to is actually quite far away from where they live. Instead of studying close by, there is a strange trend that involves studying at a much further university. One that involves spending hours on public transport travelling across Sydney. Every day, for several years.

And yes, they do get a good education there, but it is strange, given that there is a pretty good university just near by, with great opportunities for connecting friends with their church’s ministry. Why is that?

I wonder if, for many, the thinking is that a university degree from that university will mean a better job, and therefore a higher paying job. And in hope of that extra edge, many will spend long hours travelling across Sydney. In the mean time forgoing the opportunity to make connections with students living quite close by to them.

When I was choosing my university, I know that inside of me there was this strong, burning desire to reach the very furthest I could with the marks I got from school. To get into the very best uni I could, no matter what it took. No matter what it meant in terms of travel. I felt compelled to stretch and secure the best opportunities, and work out the details later.

But of course if I was asked why I chose that university, I would have said that it was a good university. That I want to get a good education. That I want to be challenged. I suppose it convinced others – it was a good cloak. A useful subterfuge.

Of course, there is nothing wrong as such with going to one university or another. But what I want to highlight is how the inclinations of one’s heart may cause people to go to quite extreme lengths in the pursuit of their treasure. It is said, “What the heart desires, the will chooses, and the mind justifies.” And you can see how that dynamic comes into play, even in this simple choice of university.

Is the difference in education really so massive that we travel across Sydney for several years? Is the imagined difference in starting salary really so significant to us that we give up opportunities to befriend and minister to students living close by? Because it does have an impact on the kind of ministry we can do. On the time we have to invest in relationships. Even on our sleep!

The truth about universities is that it doesn’t really matter all that much what university you go to. We believe that it matters, and so choose accordingly – but in reality, employers aren’t all that fussed. They are really much more interested in the quality of the person than the crest on the testamur. So we needn’t worry so much.

Of course there may be great reasons for choosing a far-away university. Just as they may be bad reasons for choosing a close-by university. But what we are concerned about here in either case is what it is that our heart desires above all.

If you are already plugged in at a far-away university and feel convicted, it may be wiser to stay there and grow the relationships that you have already built. But learn now, how the desires of our heart so easily influence our choices. Observe how the desire for wealth or prestige leads to a multitude of seemingly innocent choices. And remember that sin is not primarily bad actions – but hearts that love and serve and worship a lesser god.