LEARNING

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in LEARNING – Proverbs 9:9

Learning brings Light. Having meditated on the variety of ‘colors’ of Divine Light such as vision, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, secrets, insight, direction, instruction, counsel, and guidance, it is pertinent to ponder on the channels and enhancers of Light. These include: Learning, Information, Education, Experience, and Mentoring. Today, we dwell on Learning. Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and will INCREASE LEARNING; and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” This infers that although learning is important, increased learning is even more vital. The truly wise never stop learning. Learning is imperative if you are to grow up, develop or mature in any aspect of life: physical, mental or spiritual. The little baby growing up into childhood has to learn, first to crawl, then walk, before he or she can attempt to run. To a great extent, the quality of your learning determines the quality of your life!

Learners are knowledge-seekers. Ultimately, LEARNERS become the LEARNED and the LEADERS (Isa.50:4). Whoever would make the most of life must learn everything possible about life’s assignments: the Principles of Life as well as practical life-skills. If you really study the people who are most fulfilled in this life – it is the seekers and learners – it is the people who are constantly trying to improve their knowledge base on whatever it is they are called into. It is the knowledge-seekers that are making the greatest discoveries that are changing the course of human history. They could not have made those unique discoveries without first seeking after the relevant knowledge that would eventually lead them to such outstanding encounters. No one was born into this world with great knowledge. You became what you are through learning. Through attention to detail, passion, diligence, effort, and time, you learnt and discovered what you now know.

A learner is one who receives and applies information or knowledge consistently, conscientiously, and correctly. Wise people are lifetime learners. Jesus was a learner: “Now it was so that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions” (Lk. 2:46). Jesus loved to learn: “…He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb.5:8). Moses was a learner: “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:22). Daniel was a learner – a man of the book: “In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books…” (Dan.9:2).  Paul was a learner and strong advocate of lifelong learning (Phil.4:9; 2Tim.3:14). He reminded Timothy of “the books, but especially the parchments” (2Tim. 4:13). Lifelong learners give priority to books! Interestingly, God has arranged to have the core of the spiritual knowledge that we will ever need about Him, His Son, and His Spirit contained in one Book – the Bible.

Positive transformation entails learning (Rom.12:2). Growth requires learning; partaking of the milk and meat of God’s Word (1Pet.2:2). The day you quit learning you quit growing (Pro.1:5). Obedience demands learning, even as our Lord “learned obedience” (Heb.5:8). He Himself invites us to learn of and from Him.  It is in learning at the Master’s feet that your labor is lightened. (Mt.11:29). He wants you to be a passionate, life-long learner of both His Word and His wonder-filled world. When you choose to be such, you become wiser, increase in learning, and have greater Impact in His Kingdom and your world. You learn through personal adventures you have with God, by the Holy Spirit, in your daily walk (Jh.14:26); through personal study and meditation in the Bible, and learning from other Christians, especially those who are anointed and gifted to rightly share His Word (Phil.4:9; 2Tim.2:15). Stop fretting and worrying; start learning and you’ll be truly alight and alive.