WEEK 2
TOPIC: BASIC WAYS PEOPLE LEARN
TEXT: Matt. 11:29
Learning is a never ending adventure in life. To stop learning is to start dying. There is nothing that’s worth it that doesn’t require learning L as far as life is concerned. Your learning determines your earnings. Show me an addicted learner, and I will show you a great leader among men. Child of God, what you are too big to learn, you are too small to manifest. Being a learner is an attitude you possess otherwise you grow up a dummy, no matter your age. A wise man learns from anything under any circumstance. He either learns what to do or what not to do. You know why the bible says pride goes before a fall? It is basically because a proud man does not learn, he is too big to do so and the things he refuses to learn become his disadvantage in his critical years (Prov. 16:18).
The purpose of this lesson however is not to look at the art of learning in details, but to just enlighten us about the basic ways people learn. This will help you locate yourself in your learning adventure. There are 3 basic ways among others which are:
1. By Wisdom (Prov. 1:4-5): You learn by wisdom because wisdom is a teacher. Wisdom teaches you ahead of time so you are prepared. God has given us His wisdom in the bible to help us learn everything ahead of time. If you learn by wisdom, you will save yourself a lot of troubles. It is not all problems you solve, you avoid some especially when they have no direct relevance to your course in destiny. All manners of problems bedevil the man who doesn’t learn by wisdom.
Learning By Wisdom Is In 3 Dimensions Namely:
A. Instruction: Wisdom comes to you through instructions. An instructed man is a wise man. A large percentage of God’s wisdom dealing with us are through instructions, the bible is replete with this. If you are too big to be instructed, you are a foolish man. It is instruction that delivers from destruction. Every destruction is instruction ignored (Prov. 4:13). Instruction shows you what to do and the way to go (Ps. 25:12, 32:8). Instruction can come from the Holy Spirit directly, but often times it comes through divinely ordained human authorities placed by God over you per time. If you don’t listen to their instructions as they themselves hear it from God for you, you may not hear God talking to you again directly on that matter. You learn to walk with God by learning to walk with men that are higher than you in the things of God per time.
B. Observation (Prov. 24:30-34): Observation is an opportunity to learn what you might not be taught verbally. Not everything is learnt by verbal communication, some will come be observation. God expects us to observe things and perceive knowledge; it is one of the marks of a developed spiritual life. If you don’t learn by observation, you will miss many vital lessons of life and it will tell on you later.
C. Study (2 Tim. 2:15): To study is another dimension of learning by wisdom. Engaging in studies makes you learn things in their deep details. Be a student in life, not just in formal school. When you study, you get equipped with relevant knowledge to face life. A studious is standout life.
2. By Experience (Heb. 5:8): Experience is another way people learn. Experience is a good teacher, but it can be cruel in its teaching. Many times, failure to learn by wisdom is what makes life transfer you to the class of experience. Yes, these are things you must learn by experience as you simply learn by wisdom. David said, “….before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I have kept thy word….” (Ps. 119:67). This is a graphic picture of a man who was transferred to the classroom of experience to learn these because he failed to learn in the classroom of wisdom. There are positive experiences where you encounter God in such a way that no book can give you such. There are also negative experiences where you go through needless situations because you neglected wisdom. Get the positive side of experience and not the negative. Experience they say is the best teacher. But the truth is that experience is the best teacher for those who failed to be taught by wisdom.
3. Judgment (Prov. 29:1): This is the third class in which people learn. Judgment comes after wisdom and experience have done their duty in your life and you fail to learn. The mystery of it is, at the level of judgment, you are not the one to learn again, others are now to learn from your case. This level rarely happens, but it does when it becomes inevitable. Abraham told the rich man in hell that his brothers on earth have prophets to listen to or else they will come and join him in hell (Luke 16:27-31). That rich man was already at the judgment level and we are now learning from his case. If you don’t want to get to the judgment level, please learn at the wisdom class or at worst that experience class so others will not start learning from your case. You will not come to judgment in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Points to note
1. Learning is critical to earning in life.
2. People don’t learn at the same level in life.
3. Wisdom, experience and judgment are the three main classes of learning in life.
4. At the judgment level, you are not the one learning anymore, others are now learning from your case.
Prayers/Declaration
Father, I pray that you cause me to be an addicted learner of your ways. May I not be resistant to wisdom as you take me through my path in life. I declare that as I walk with you in humility, I will not come into judgment in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Questions for meditation
1. List the 3 major ways of learning and explain them?
2. Why is wisdom the highest way of learning even though experience is also good?
3. What is the tragedy about the judgment way of learning?