I love learning new things. I had to learn vocabulary word in an English class. My favorite part of that assignment was the study of origins of the words. I also like factoids-those little bits of information that can be stashed for trivia games.
The human brain was designed for life long learning. From a spiritual angle, we were called to life long learning. As Christians, we are the disciples or students of Christ. We have come to him to learn. He teaches us how to live in order to please the Father.
Solomon instructed his son to, "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge" (Prov. 23:22). His words are a command. Learning about our Lord and Savior isn't a mere suggestion, but a marching order.
The call is to open our hearts to instruction. The heart can refer to the inner person. The term instruction can also be translated discipline. Solomon is calling his son to open his heart to correction.
Most of us don't like correction. It tends to be embarrassing and unpleasant. But our hearts are bent away from God and in need of correcting. The shaping of our hearts happens as a result of instruction and discipline. We must be trained how to live in God pleasing ways.
How are we trained? By hearing and applying God's Word to our lives. If we will listen and apply the truths we learn, we will experience growth. It is hard work, but well worth the effort.
Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Mark of Good Judgment
"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, the ears of the wise seek it" (Prov. 18:15, NIV).
The heart was the center of thinking and decisions making. The discerning person, or individual of good judgment, acquires (learns over time) knowledge. Knowledge is intellectual understanding. It is comprehension of what truly is. The ears of the wise seek knowledge. Those who are truly wise want to learn.
Why does Solomon state such an obvious truth? The wise have knowledge seems like such a, "Well, Duh!" statement. Of course, the wise have knowledge. What is your point, Solomon?
Here are some truths we can glean from Solomon's insight:
1. Knowledge is possible, that is, there is a truth to be known.
2. The reason so few "know" it is because so few seek it.
3. Knowing doesn't come without effort.
4. Wise people are always ready to learn.
5. Wise people measure or test everything they learn against the standard of truth.
6. Solomon is exposing a pattern to imitate.
7. The wise are storehouse of sound advise.
8. We should surround ourselves with the wise.
9. We should seek to become wise.
Open your ears to the voice of truth, and you will acquire knowledge. May your heart grown in discernment as you seek knowledge.
The heart was the center of thinking and decisions making. The discerning person, or individual of good judgment, acquires (learns over time) knowledge. Knowledge is intellectual understanding. It is comprehension of what truly is. The ears of the wise seek knowledge. Those who are truly wise want to learn.
Why does Solomon state such an obvious truth? The wise have knowledge seems like such a, "Well, Duh!" statement. Of course, the wise have knowledge. What is your point, Solomon?
Here are some truths we can glean from Solomon's insight:
1. Knowledge is possible, that is, there is a truth to be known.
2. The reason so few "know" it is because so few seek it.
3. Knowing doesn't come without effort.
4. Wise people are always ready to learn.
5. Wise people measure or test everything they learn against the standard of truth.
6. Solomon is exposing a pattern to imitate.
7. The wise are storehouse of sound advise.
8. We should surround ourselves with the wise.
9. We should seek to become wise.
Open your ears to the voice of truth, and you will acquire knowledge. May your heart grown in discernment as you seek knowledge.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Warning: Knowledge Increases Sorrow
"For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (Ecc. 1:18, ESV).
The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge can never be ends in themselves. It is not sufficient to "be wise" or to "have knowledge." These sorts of pursuits leave one puffed up with pride. With knowledge comes the expectation of correct response. Or to quote Uncle Ben, from Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Solomon initially pursued wisdom with the end of rightly leading God's people fixed in his sight. However, after his wisdom became known, he began trying to increase his wisdom for the sake of having wisdom. His focus shifted from glorifying God to glorifying himself.
His knowledge of the proper response to God, burdened him with guilt. Solomon's disobedience was costly, not only to himself, but his family and his nation. The more you know, the more you have reason to grieve. Knowledge burdens the learner with expectations, but the pursuit of knowledge often floods the mind with contradictory information that must be sorted out, and which can blind you to the truth.
That is not to say that one should never study or never seek to learn. I believe Solomon is saying that we need to know why we are learning (for God's glory), how it will help us to serve him, and why study should be approached with great care. Failure to discern between truth and opinion disguised as "fact," can be very destructive.
Let's say that you don't know that starving children are dying in Karzy*. One day you come upon a startling statistic that says 65% of all the children in Karzy will die of malnutrition before they reach the age of three. You check all the references and discover that the statistic is true. Now you have knowledge that increases your sorrow.
There are at least two ways it increases your sorrow. First, you are made aware of the fact that children are starving to death in a foreign land. Unless you're some kind of heartless monster, that fact should disturb you in some way. Second, you now have the responsibility to do something. Prior to discovering the fact you were blissful in your ignorance, and you had no moral duty. However, upon learning about the situation you become morally responsible, before God, to help the starving children.
Knowledge is power, and power brings responsibility. If we are to live in a way that please our King, we will continue to learn, and act upon what we learn. Learning for any other purpose, will only weary the learner.
*Karzy is a fictional place, however starving children are a reality in our world.
The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge can never be ends in themselves. It is not sufficient to "be wise" or to "have knowledge." These sorts of pursuits leave one puffed up with pride. With knowledge comes the expectation of correct response. Or to quote Uncle Ben, from Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Solomon initially pursued wisdom with the end of rightly leading God's people fixed in his sight. However, after his wisdom became known, he began trying to increase his wisdom for the sake of having wisdom. His focus shifted from glorifying God to glorifying himself.
His knowledge of the proper response to God, burdened him with guilt. Solomon's disobedience was costly, not only to himself, but his family and his nation. The more you know, the more you have reason to grieve. Knowledge burdens the learner with expectations, but the pursuit of knowledge often floods the mind with contradictory information that must be sorted out, and which can blind you to the truth.
That is not to say that one should never study or never seek to learn. I believe Solomon is saying that we need to know why we are learning (for God's glory), how it will help us to serve him, and why study should be approached with great care. Failure to discern between truth and opinion disguised as "fact," can be very destructive.
Let's say that you don't know that starving children are dying in Karzy*. One day you come upon a startling statistic that says 65% of all the children in Karzy will die of malnutrition before they reach the age of three. You check all the references and discover that the statistic is true. Now you have knowledge that increases your sorrow.
There are at least two ways it increases your sorrow. First, you are made aware of the fact that children are starving to death in a foreign land. Unless you're some kind of heartless monster, that fact should disturb you in some way. Second, you now have the responsibility to do something. Prior to discovering the fact you were blissful in your ignorance, and you had no moral duty. However, upon learning about the situation you become morally responsible, before God, to help the starving children.
Knowledge is power, and power brings responsibility. If we are to live in a way that please our King, we will continue to learn, and act upon what we learn. Learning for any other purpose, will only weary the learner.
*Karzy is a fictional place, however starving children are a reality in our world.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)