Learning Never Stops — Mark 4:25
For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him — Mark 4:25 (NASB)
I’ve met some very brilliant people in my life, great minds who have an intellect that puts me to shame. I have a decent handle on mathematics, but when it comes to advanced applications such as Calculus, I am lost.
What I do have is a desire to learn. Maybe not so much Calculus or a World Language, rather to have a better grasp of what I already know and to be open to learning new things. I never believed that my education stopped when I completed my college studies, rather I’ve long looked at my years since then as opportunities to keep on learning, but in an unstructured environment.
Jesus encouraged his disciples to keep on learning too, promising those who did that new things would be revealed to them. Not new and contradictory doctrine, as some would say, rather a deeper understanding of who He is, what God wants from us, His plans for us, etc.
Mark 4:21-25 is known as the parable of the light under the basket. Jesus asks his people where a light is to be put — under a bed or on a lampstand? Clearly, the answer would be on a lampstand where all would see it. Back in verse 11, Jesus told his disciples that ”…it has been given to know the mystery of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables…”
For the follower who seeks the light (that is the knowledge of God), Jesus’ intention is for them to have all truth revealed. Thus, putting the light away as in under the bed will mean that the follower will not learn truth.
Even more emphatically Jesus warns the person who has truth but doesn’t seek to learn more, that even what he has will be taken away from him. I equate this warning to the Christian who refuses to open his Bible to learn of God; eventually what knowledge of the truth they do possess fades away.
One of the biggest problems in this world isn’t a lack of knowledge, rather people pursuing worldly knowledge at the exclusion of knowing God. Quite frankly I am not opposed to people furthering their formal education, but if they do that at the expense of learning more about the higher purposes of God then their great intellect will do them no good ultimately.
Perhaps that is the reason why we have so many smart people in this world who are truly clueless when it comes to the things of God.
The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge — Proverbs 18:15 (NASB).
Photo Credit: Wong Mei Teng
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Mei Teng | February 20th, 2009 at 7:40 pm #
Hi there! Thanks for using my image and for the link
Matt | February 21st, 2009 at 5:25 am #
You are welcome, Mei! I also bought a one day advert via Entrecard for your site. Thank you for sharing an attractive and appropriate photograph.
Elyong | February 21st, 2009 at 5:32 pm #
“people pursuing worldly knowledge at the exclusion of knowing God.”
How does knowledge become worldly or what is a worldly knowledge? When in everything we do, we do it to glorify God, would there be a worldly knowledge? I just thought that it is just a matter of having God in all aspects of our lives.
Matt | February 21st, 2009 at 8:41 pm #
Thank you for your comment, Elyong.
Worldly knowledge would be those things such as the sciences, mathematics, psychology, the arts, etc. that are significant parts of our lives, but don’t necessarily include God. Certainly, a Christian can and should learn many different things and, by seeing God’s place in these things, have a proper perspective of that type of knowledge.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:8-9: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
Among the “all things” that Paul considered to be dung (compared to knowledge of Jesus as his Lord) was everything he learned apart from God. He still used those things in his ministry (including languages, his Roman citizenship, etc.) but they paled in comparison to what he learned about the Lord — pity the person who has great knowledge of all things, but never comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
jonie | February 27th, 2009 at 1:00 am #
Hi Matt!
Tkanks for leaving a comment on one of my websites! (Unchained Life).
Interesting posts you’ve got here!
I love learning new things – seeing that the world and all that is in it is God’s, the more we know the better we know God. And for those who don’t know our Father – well, God spoke about a rainbow, through a burning bush…He is not restricted to the Bible. Of course we must read His word prayerfully – it’s His beautiful love letter to us! – but I know of someone who was saved after hearing the words – God loves you. She had never read the Bible. She does now!
God bless you and give you joy!
Jonie
Matt | February 27th, 2009 at 5:34 am #
Thanks for stopping by, Jonie.
That’s a nice testimony regarding someone who came to know the Lord over three simple words: God loves you. And you know what? Often it is just a simple act of demonstrating His love to someone that shows them how much He loves them.
Agreed, the entire Bible is God’s love letter to us. And, He reveals so much about His nature to us through His word as well as through the world around us. May God impart His joy to you as well.