Life-Long Learning

Proverbs 13:18 (KJV) Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Instruction is presented here as something which is given to you by another person.  The NASB uses the word “discipline” (4148) instead of instruction.  That different vocabulary got me to thinking about how discipline, or instruction, or even learning is a two edge sword.

We are taught by others.  As children our parents are our first and most effective teachers.  That’s one reason why homeschooling works so well.  Parents, even when they don’t realize it, are outstanding teachers.  And this goes on through life as we go through apprenticeships or on the job training or just about anything.  We can learn from others.

The other side of this is self teaching.  I went to seminary.  It was a valuable experience.  But most of the value there was in maturing and developing an outlook on life that was shaped by the attitudes and values of the professors.  It wasn’t so much the content.  You may have seen that title, “everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten”.  There’s some wisdom in that.  Our education really depends on us continuing to learn.

So?  Your greatest teacher is the Holy Spirit.  Learning depends on you though eventually.  You need to be open.  You need to be seeking.  God will supply the textbooks of life.