Learn or Taught

Life lessons: those times and events in our lives where there is something we needed to know, but it was the life event that taught it to us. Like them or not, we all know and have experienced these lessons, and as parents, we try to teach our children so that they might avoid some of the more difficult ones, right? This is the same process that our parents tried with us, and how did we respond? It seems that every next generation has discovered a new way of doing things that surpasses the knowledge of the previous generation, ensuring that they will avoid making the same mistakes the previous generation made. How'd that work out for you?

Let's face it, there are lessons that we will either submit to someone's authority and learn, or we will be subject to the consequences, and taught the lesson on our own. One would think that after generations of this we would start to get the idea that willfully learning something is far less painful than it being taught through an event. Yet we seem to willfully subject ourselves to this process, so much so that "you will have to learn that on your own" has become a common (and accepted as truthful) phrase. A not-so-funny thing is that even through learning opportunities and life events, some people actually seem to refuse to learn - we have identified this in toddlers as the terrible twos, but it is not a condition that they hold exclusively at all.

Why is it so hard for us to learn or accept certain things? Or worse, why do some people refuse to ever learn some of these things at all? God has a plan and purpose for everyone's life, and there are things He will attempt to teach you if you are not willing to learn them. God's plan and purpose does not benefit God, but is simply what is the best for us. So then the choice about learning becomes not about "how" you will learn, but simply "if" you will. Look at this Proverb from the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon (ref. 1 Kings 4:29-34):

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:5, 7 ESV

The literal translation of the Greek word for disciple is a learner. The goal of a Christ follower is to become a disciple, therefore the best path to this would be one of a constant learner instead of one trying to get somewhere or be anything more than that. Then instead of being angry about something or someone, or struggling through life's ups and downs, one might look at everything and everyone as opportunities to learn how to be more Christ-like?

If acting in such a way as to be viewed as a life long learner would change how you view life and how you approach problems and people, then maybe you are in need of making a change:  One can either learn it now, or get taught it later - that choice is all yours.

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat