By Jean Roberson
Have you ever been astounded by how much you don’t know?
I remember a time when I thought I knew a lot. To be honest, I remember a time when I thought I knew everything, but that was a long time ago.
Now I sometimes wonder if I know anything. It is true what they say. The more you know, the more you become aware of how much you do not know.
The world is changing so fast. Information is available everywhere. New ideas. New discoveries. New ways of accomplishing old tasks.
While the world is changing quickly and new discoveries are made every day, I sometimes struggle to take care of my family, do my job and grow in my faith. We live busy lives. If we are not careful, we stand still in the midst of a growing and developing world.
One of my professors once said if she came to visit our offices once we were out of school and the only books on our shelves were old textbooks, then she would know she failed as a teacher.
I love the image Paul uses to describe the Christian life. We start as babies, but as we grow and learn, we move on to more solid food. That image demonstrates for us the growth process we all enter into in our faith. What about the verse in Philippians that says God will be faithful to complete the process He began in us? Again, here is this idea of continued growth and development regardless of our age.
But this image not only speaks to our life in Christ. It also speaks to us in the circumstances of our lives. We are given a lifetime, some longer than others, to learn and to grow as people. We grow in our relationships and we grow in our knowledge.
Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance … .”
As leaders in our home, our church and our workplace, we have to be faithful to this idea of growing and developing. We have to learn the new things and expand our understanding of the world. Only then can we lead and guide others into greater understanding.
To stand still, distracted by the tasks of our day, is to be unfaithful to the calling God has put on us and the roles in which He has put us. Instead, let us embrace our lack of knowledge and be dedicated to learning.
When was the last time you read a book in your field? When was the last time you attended a conference? When was the last time you sought a mentor or sought to mentor someone who could also teach you?
A Takeaway Value …
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning … .”
EDITOR’S NOTE — Jean Roberson, MSW, LCSW, is a ministry consultant for national Woman’s Missionary Union. She serves as team leader for the adult team and director of Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps and International Initiatives.
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