Don’t Stop Learning

Introduction – what is learning?

The first thing in comprehending why we must not stop learning is to understand what learning is. The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines the word “Learn” as follows:

1. Get knowledge or skill in a new subject or activity.
2. Make yourself remember a piece of writing by reading it or repeating it many times.
3. Start to understand that you must change the way you behave.
4. Be told facts or information that you did not know.

Where there is life there is learning. Learning occurs on every day. It goes on until that life expires. Learning is a process that both requires and involves a source, a platform or opportunity, an atmosphere and a subject.

The source is the teacher, it is not necessarily always a person, but it could be a situation. A platform or opportunity is the occasion the lesson runs. The atmosphere is the conditions prevailing. The subject is you and I doing the learning. If one of these aspects is missing the goal of learning will not be achieved!

We learn because we have a goal. Our parents took us through different stages of this process; from talking to standing, walking to running, and to various school levels. Their goal was to equip us with skills and knowledge. That though is not the ultimate goal of learning. We learn so that we are prepared for the challenge / need that will come at one time or another. Learning is important for survival!

The Four Prerequisites For Learning

We said earlier that if any one of these vital prerequisites is missing, then the goal of the learning process will not be attained. All efforts will only be but futile.  So let us here delve deeper into these must haves one at a time.

The Source or teacher is the person or situation that will give you the necessary life skills and information at that time of the lesson. It is very important that you have a good source, reliable and sound. Note though that my source may not be your relevant source. Despite that still, your source should be good, reliable and sound.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 (HCSB) says, “In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.”

Ezra 7:6 and 11 (HCSB) say, “He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of Yahweh his God was on him.”

This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in matters of the Lord’s commands and statutes for Israel:”

Matthew 22:16 (HCSB) says about the Lord Jesus Christ, “They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality.”

Now let us compare Jeremiah 12:10 and Jeremiah 3:15 (ESV)…

“Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my portion; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.”

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Look for the heart of God in your teacher!

The Platform or Opportunity is more the occasion that the lesson runs. Learning cannot take place without the platform. The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary gives the following definitions:

A platform is an opportunity to make your ideas known publicly.

An opportunity is an occasion or situation which makes it possible to do something.

An occasion is a particular time, especially when something happens or has happened.

Question? What is my part and your part in the occasion? Well you can choose one of at least three options:

1. Be non-participant or passive.
2. Or be stubborn or stiff-necked.
3. Best though is to be humble.

But we will get deeper into these a little later.

The Atmosphere is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as the character, feeling or mood of a place or situation. This is so important for the learning process. It is so because it can mean the difference between achieving the goal of the lesson or not.

This is controlled by “either/ or” the teacher and student. Again it can be influenced by “teacher and/or student’. The tragedy is that a lot of people do not know how to make, let alone maintain the correct atmosphere that will foster the learning process successfully. If handled wrong, this may result in the student rejecting, resenting the lesson, and may be even the tutor.

The Subject is you and me the students. We have a very big and important task of learning and learning well. It is incumbent upon us that come out of the learning process equipped with skill and knowledge.

Ezra 7:10 (HSCB) says, “Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

Exodus 33:10-11 (HCSB) says, “As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent. The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.”

2 Timothy 2:15 (HCSB) says,” Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.”

Proverbs 13:4 (NIV) says, “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Why Do We Learn

Titus 3:14 (HCSB) says, “And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works for cases of urgent need, so that they will not be unfruitful.”

“And let our people go on with good works for necessary purposes, so that they may not be without fruit.” (BBE)

Every lesson has an intended outcome. The outcome is what prescribes the lesson. Remember, learning is for equipping the student with new skills and knowledge. But further it is for preparation for a future need or challenge. Therefore, the lesson must be relevant enough that when the need arises, the student will have the right skills and knowledge so that he/she may survive the challenge and meet the need.

Proverbs 22: 10 (BBE) says, “If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.”

1 Timothy 4:7 (HCSB) says, “But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,”

We learn so that we can do the right thing in the moment of challenge. We see this in the disciples challenge in Acts 4:13 (NIV), “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Learning Never Produces The Same Results

At the end of the term, the school reports show that not all the students got the same rating/ results. The same and even more at the end of the year for all graduating classes; and you see statements such as “He/she topped the entire school, or even the region in the class of this or that year.”

Two students sitting under the same tutor will not necessarily produce the same results. They may both attain or achieve the goal of the lesson, but they will have learnt different life skills. It is tragic that sometimes and a lot of times so, many students do not achieve the goal of the lesson. Some of the reasons are as follows:

• Being a non-participant or passive. You are there but you are turned off. This will not result in the attainment of the goal of the lesson. You are not engaged in what you are learning. This prevents you from assimilating the necessary information to equip you.

Again as you are non-participant you will produce negative vibes into either your tutor and/or fellow students.

This is the kind of person they call “a pew warmer”.

• Stubborn Student. Stubbornness will not result in anything good. Stubborn is not adamancy. Stubbornness has its roots in disobedience, rudeness, pride and lack of respect for one another and authority. Adamancy however hails from a place of fact and information. It holds onto an informed opinion with respect.

Sometimes called stiff necked-ness in the bible, stubbornness resulted in many of the people who came out of Egypt not to enter Canaan. This also produces negative vibes. Worse off since it is an outward expression as well, it fosters strife. We need to let go of the stubbornness because God opposes the proud, (1 Peter 5:5). Humility encourages the tutor to pour into the student. Humility drives the teacher to want to show the student how far he/she can go because humility produces positives vibes. It tells the teacher, “I know you have what I need, and I am ready to receive it.” Even God responds positively to a humble spirit, (1 Peter 5:5). Humility opens up the channels of teaching and learning.

Four Keys To Improved Learning

1. Identify Opportunities

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11, KJV.

Learning opportunities are all around us, ever present. The Lord has given us both time and chance, two very important and needed tools. You have these tools at your disposal, to harness for your advantage. So look out for opportunities to learn. Some of them you might have to create or prompt. Time and chance are yours for your benefit. Sometimes you will get hints from your source or another for you to explore and develop on your own.

• Apply Yourself

This is a challenge for a lot of students. One reason is that we as students forget the desired outcome of the lesson. Most times we don’t even know the desired outcome. Learning a new skill, understanding the new information has plenty a challenge. One reason is the fact it is not our known comfort zone.

This results in diverse responses from the students. Some will resent it, others will go half way and others still will go put in the extra effort. Application of ourselves to the lesson will demand that they take note of what is being taught, see where they are challenged and seek to improve their ability to retain the information, and master the skill.

2 Timothy 2:15 (BBE) says, “Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way.”

Proverbs 21:3 (HCSB) says, “The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.”

• Esteem Yourself Worthy

An inferiority complex will hinder one from learning. It will definitely strangle any hint to apply oneself to the learning. The words of the Lord Jesus encourage us to look highly at ourselves when He said in Luke 6:40 (NIV), “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”  You are not any less than the next person. You can become the best at it. So learn well!

• Be a Goal-getter

If you withhold your efforts you will have inferior results. Challenge yourself to go highest that you can get.

Proverbs 21:5 (HCSB) says, “The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.”

Proverbs 22:29 (HCSB) says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings.”

Set your heart on things above…., above what? Set your heart above the challenge of the lesson.

Please read this portion of Scripture in your Bible. Proverbs 8:10-35! Hear Wisdom Admonish us to learn.