Learning Jesus (6)

The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Ecclesiastes 12.11, 12

Wearisome, but necessary
Solomon knew first-hand how much study can wear you out – all that reading, pondering, sketching things out, writing things down, looking for applications! It’s enough to exhaust even the most devoted student.

No one ever said learning – or discipleship – would be easy.

Solomon was not condemning the life of learning in these words, as some suppose. He was simply making an observation. He has already told us that learning is a “burdensome task,” but he also insisted that God has appointed us the duty of searching out and seeking by wisdom whatever is done under the heavens.

The Apostle Paul agreed. In order to achieve the upward prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, we need to press on, working diligently to bring every thought captive to obey the Lord, and growing in the mind of Christ day by day.

So while learning can be wearisome, this is no excuse for not taking up the challenge of lifelong learning. A disciple is a learner, and a disciple of Jesus – every follower of Jesus Christ – will commit to the lifelong pursuit of learning Jesus by every means.

And in that regard, we can be grateful that “of making many books there is no end,” for this means there will always be new things to learn as we press on in our journey toward the wisdom of God in Jesus Christ.

Solomon mainly wanted to warn his son against learning anything that would lead him beyond the firmly fixed and secure words given by the divine Shepherd. God’s Word is the standard of truth, the final bar of appeal in all matters of learning and life, the final filter for a life of learning.

Making the time for reading
And, as part of that life, a commitment to reading.

With so many books available to us it seems a shame not to have a go at reading as many of them as we can. For most of us this will involve two significant challenges.

First, we will need to find the time to read more. Right now our time is filled up with activities we consider to be of the utmost importance. We will do in our lives only and exactly what we want to do, and this means that we’re using God’s gift of time right now in what we consider to be according to our best interests, and His.

But we should examine our time to consider whether all these activities are helping or hindering our quest for wisdom, Christlikeness, and the Kingdom of God (Eph.5.15). If we want to read more, we’ll need to make more time available, mainly by eliminating things that take up time, but which are not productive of wisdom.

Each of us needs to maintain a continuous watch on the way we use our time. Every moment of time not invested for Christ and His Kingdom will be lost forever.

Reading well
Second, we’ll need to adopt a reading plan that is appropriate to our calling. We want our reading to complement our study of Scripture in equipping us for the good works essential to following Jesus in our Personal Mission Field. Reading well means varied and close reading. Strive for a mix of reading on various topics that involves books, journals, and the Internet, with your selections made according your calling from the Lord. In reading books, choose from various genre – biography, nonfiction, poetry, history, and so forth – and different eras.

Be diligent to read closely in all your reading. This might mean reading slowly and thinking deeply about what you’re reading, or talking with a soul friend or study partner. You might also try reading with a pen in hand to make notes, raise questions, and jot down any responses, and especially to reflect on the benefit of your reading for your calling as a follower of King Jesus.

For your reading on the Internet, try to identify a handful of sites which feature writers you trust and which can link you to other relevant articles and sites. That way you cut down on time doing web searches for interesting or relevant articles, or in mindless surfing for nothing in particular.

Be sure to include in your reading of many books, great books from our Christian past. Writers like Augustine, Calvin, Edwards, Lewis, and many others have recorded true and lasting insights that can help us grow in wisdom and equip us for teaching others.

Get started on your reading plan at once. Much study can wear us out, it’s true; but God has appointed us to it, and, after time in the Word of God, good reading is the vehicle best suited to carry you forward in your journey to wisdom as a follower of Jesus Christ.

For reflection
1.  What are some things that keep us from reading? Which of these are keeping you from reading more?

2.  Think of a book that has especially helped you in your discipleship. What did you learn from this book to encourage and guide you in following Jesus?

3.  How might Christians encourage one another to read more?

Next steps – Preparation: What will you do in order to develop and begin following a plan for wider reading in different areas? Talk with your study partner about this question.

T. M. Moore

This week’s study, Learning Jesus, is Part 3 of a 5-part series on Following Jesus.Each week’s study is available in a free PDF which you can download by clicking here.

Christians learn best when their learning is framed within a Christian worldview. Our free online course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, is available any time, and at no charge. Click here to learn more about this helpful and challenging introduction to Christian worldview, presented in 12 diagrams by T. M. Moore.

Take up the challenge of your Personal Mission Field – and do so with a friend. Watch the video on our Mission Partners Outreach for more information about how you can begin to follow Jesus in your Personal Mission Field (click here).

The Lord uses your prayers and gifts to help us in this ministry. Add us to your regular prayer list, and seek the Lord concerning whether He would have you share with us. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the contribute button at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.