Keep on Learning

By Pastor Bill Gaube

Have you ever heard of Facebook? Well, yes, unless you are living in outer Slobovia you have. Do you use Facebook? Believe it or not even some of us “seniors” do. My first post stated “look, old dogs can learn new tricks!”

The truth is, we are never too old to learn. In fact my definition of growing old is: “when we stop learning.” I’ve seen some pretty young people stop growing. They get stuck in old patterns and grow old early.

To help pay for Graduate School, I worked in a Personnel Department of a company. (That is Human Resources to you younger people.) One day I excitedly showed my boss a job application we’d received. The guy had 9 years of experience! My boss looked up and said, “We need to discover if he has 9 years of experience or one year he repeated 9 times.”

I’ve been a Christian for 60 years. Yet I have to admit I do not have 60 years of Christian growth. Being a disciple of Christ means we are learners. Christian maturity is not how long we’ve been a Christian, but how much are we learning from the Lord.

Remember how Jesus was frustrated toward the end of His ministry when the disciples asked Him a question? His answer was, “Have I not been with you so long, and you do not know?” In other words, “after all this time, haven’t you learned?”

One simple prayer helps me be a learner. During rough and tough times I pray: “Lord, what do you want me to learn in this?” Next to my prayer of initial faith, it is the most important prayer I’ve prayed.

A dying Christian was once asked, “What caused your deepest spiritual growth?” He answered he was thankful for all the blessings God had given, but he wouldn’t be where he was spiritually if he had missed one of the trials and tribulations.

A mentor of mine always asked: “What has God been teaching you lately?” Ask yourself that question.