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Always Learning
The scriptures speak of some who are “always learning and never able to
come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). I was somewhat
reminded of this passage while watching a certain episode of the game
show, “Jeopardy,” a few weeks ago.
“Jeopardy,” of course, is the show where the contestants must ask a
“question” in connection with the “answer” revealed. On this particular
episode one of the categories was entitled, “Chapter 1, Verse 1.” The
first words of a particular book of the Bible were to be quoted by the
host, with the contestants giving the name of the book from whence it
came.
There was no problem with the first one: “In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth.” One of the contestants replied, “What is
‘Genesis’?” Correct. But of the remaining four answers, not a one was
matched with the correct question. “There was a man in the land of Uz...”
“Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt...”
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly...” and
“In the third year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it” were all met with either
incorrect questions or blank stares. (Now don’t get too downhearted if
you can’t think of the “question” to all four of them either -- I’ll
admit that before I could think of a reply to the last one, Alex Trebek
was telling us all, “What is ‘Daniel’?”)
But what seemed to provide a bit of humorous twist to things was the
fact that one of the contestants was a graduate of some “theological
seminary.” Here was a fellow who after all his supposed higher
“spiritual learning” should have had (or one would think) some clue as
to how one or more of these books of the Bible begins. But no, he
didn’t. Perhaps I’m being a little too rough on the young man. Perhaps
we ought to give him the benefit of the doubt and consider that he might
have gotten a little tight and nervous with a category that he was
expected to do well in. Perhaps so. But it does make one think.
A Self-Examination
Even further, it ought to make the child of God think about his own
“learning.” Self-examining questions should be posed. “How long has it
been since I became a babe in Christ?” “How much have I learned since
being born again?” “Am I able to teach others what I have ‘learned’?”
“Do I have a working knowledge of the word, one which I am able to apply
to everyday situations?” OR is it that I am “‘always learning and never
coming to the knowledge of the truth’?” We have seen “christians” (?)
who have attended all the services of the Lord’s church for decades and
yet (pathetically so) found themselves as pictured by the apostle,
having had the words of the Bible “go in one ear and out the other.”
What a sad sight indeed.
But let’s not dwell too long on the above to the point of
discouragement. Rather, consider briefly some constructive steps you can
take to be “always learning” and ever “coming to the knowledge of the
truth.”
Suggestions
Read your Bible daily. Read an entire book, noticing the context of
passages already familiar to you. Take a small section -- a verse or
verses -- and meditate on its meaning. “Let these words sink down into
your ears...” (Luke 9:44).
Come to Bible class. No, not every other class-period or two out of
every three, but every one possible. (It’s hard in a particular study,
for instance, to build in lesson #4 on the knowledge gained in lesson #3
when one wasn’t there for lesson #3.) Continuity is a must. Don’t look
for reasons to be busy or out-of-town for a particular class. Rather,
find ways to excuse yourself from life’s activities in order to be
present at these “learning sessions.” Prioritize properly.
Study your lesson before coming to class. Don’t expect the teacher to do
all the work for you. He will help, but acknowledge this: that retention
of the material covered will be more than doubled if some preparation is
done by the student beforehand.
Not only listen to sermons presented, but literally “search the
scriptures” that are cited (Acts 17:11). Make notes if you have a free
hand. (This can be tedious, but will produce great rewards.)
Ask questions during the Bible class or after the sermon. Seek
diligently for knowledge.
When provided with the opportunity to teach, use what ability you have.
While not all may feel able to teach in a public capacity, surely all
should reach the stage where they can teach a friend or neighbor. All
teaching (public or private) helps to “cement” what has already been
learned.
May God bless you in your efforts to grow. If you’ve been “learning” yet
not growing in knowledge, be honest with yourself and take the necessary
steps to correct the problem.
While the following passage pertains to the matter of giving, the
principle involved seems especially appropriate for our subject: “He who
sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6). Proper, meditative Bible study
will reap tremendous benefits.
--Mike Noble
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