God Speaking

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance”

(Proverbs 1: 5)

One of my granddaughters is graduating from University this month and my husband and I were discussing with her the next big step in her life. Times have changed since we were choosing careers and we were very interested to listen to her views about education and how she saw what attaining a university degree meant in today’s world of ever changing job descriptions (some of which we have no idea of what they encompass.) She made a very perceptive remark about the value of her 4 years of studying which impressed both of us and made us think this statement is not just for the young, it can be a lifetime goal. She saw the focus of her education was this.

Learn How To Learn

The more I thought about our conversation the more I thought how this applies to our Christian walk as well. Solomon begins the book of Proverbs urging his son to be aware of the need to seek wisdom and to be constantly learning from the wise in fact to seek these persons out and observe and follow their example. Jesus himself was referred to as the Good Teacher and he also urges those who desire to know him, to learn from him. Firstly, he asks his disciples to follow him;

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4: 19)

But it is interesting to note that he is not asking them, or us, to just follow blindly, there is a purpose in following him;

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11: 29)

To learn from him means never to stray too far away, in fact stay so close that we are always in contact with him moving as one with him.

This present age of technology has proved to me and my husband, that to be willing to learn is essential to keep up with today’s society. We realised early on the need to master the computer or we would be left behind. And then next came the smartphone (nobody has yet come up with a dumb phone for old people.) Once we disciplined ourselves to learn, we were amazed at the benefits of doing so. So too with our desire to follow Jesus. If it remains just a desire, we will not experience the incredible blessings of learning to live pleasing lives for our Heavenly Father. Our thirst for knowing our Lord in the deepest way can be insatiable, if we never lose the appetite to keep on learning.

“Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning,” (Proverbs 9: 9)