3 Reasons Why You Need to Continue Learning

Many fanatics preach against continuous learning, that is, they want people to rely entirely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Some of them believe that reading books and having formal education are worldly. Nevertheless, continuous learning is not just for worldly success; it is also necessary for ministries to become effective. A balance is needed between call and competency, professionalism and character.

1.     Personal growth determines the growth of the ministry

Growth can never happen in the absence of learning. Moreover, our ministries cannot go beyond the level of our personal growth. If we are forced to do a ministry that is greater than our knowledge and capabilities, it will either die or cause us frustrations.

God will not give us more than we can bear. Notice the behaviour of the master in the Parable of the Talents:

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Matthew 25:14–15

The master gave his servants talents (money) “according to their several ability.” Adam Clarke explains, “The duties men are called to perform are suited to their situations, and the talents they receive . . . Five talents would be too much for some men: one talent would be too little.”

The more we learn, the more we grow. The more we grow, the more God can entrust greater things to us. Continuous learning will not only benefit us as individuals, but also impact those who receive something from our ministry.

2.     Learning prepares the minister

What killed Goliath? We know that David fought against him in the name of the Lord of hosts of Israel and that he refused to use Saul’s armour. However, most people whom I asked don’t realise what God actually used to kill the giant. Let us examine the following verses to find the answer:

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

I Samuel 17:40

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth (I Samuel 17:49).

Before facing Goliath, David took time to gather five smooth stones out of the brook and put them inhis bag. It is evident in the Scriptures that God used what David had prepared to kill the enemy whom no one wanted to fight with. He used what was in the young shepherd’s hand – a stone and a sling – to launch the ministry that He had ordained for him.

People are looking for opportunities, but God is looking for people who prepare themselves. An open door is never meant for someone who doesn’t choose to prepare himself. Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America, once said to himself, “I will study and prepare myself, and someday my chance will come.”

When a tree’s branches grow out farther than its roots go deep, it eventually topples.

The advancements in technology imparted an “instant” mentality into the minds of young people. We see a trend of aspirants of the ministry who desire instant ministry, instant anointing, instant church, instant sermon or instant success.

I know a lot of young people who were so eager to enter into the work of the ministry. Some tried to remind them to be patient, to wait for their season and to prepare themselves while waiting. However, they had refused to listen to wise counsels and had launched their ministry by themselves. Their failure to prepare eventually caused them great havoc not only in their ministries, but also in their personal walk with God.

Taking time out to sharpen the sickle is not wasted time. Solomon wrote, “If the iron [axe] be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Ministers who prepare themselves through continuous learning are like a sharpened axe in the hands of God; they can split woods with just one swing.

3.     Learning helps not only the ministry, but also the minister

One of the most important parts of the ministry is the individual behind it. Learning profoundly affects the ministry and its beneficiaries; however, learning most importantly shapes the minister himself.

Firstly, a minister who has a teachable spirit loves to learn not because he wants to become a better minister, but because he wants to become a better Christian. He studies the truth for truth’s sake. This attitude towards learning inevitably improves a minister’s personal relationship with God. Let us not forget that when all things are said and done, what matters most to God are not our achievements but our faithfulness.

Secondly, a minister who gives himself to continuous learning will not only develop his personal relationship with God, but also improve his life on earth, that is, it will equip him to live a blessed earthly life. Remember that a minister is not just a minister; he is a person who needs to survive the demands of life on earth. He is not created for this world but he needs to pass through with dignity. What a minister learns will not only help him to become a better Christian, but also a good sojourner on earth – a law-abiding, debt-free contributor to the welfare of the people in his community.

Conclusion

There has never been a truly great minister who was not first a great student. The story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42 reminds us of the following lessons in the ministry:

1.     Sitting must precede doing

Adam was created on the sixth day. He had no part in God’s first six days of work. God’s seventh day was Adam’s first. “Whereas God worked six days and then enjoyed His Sabbath rest, Adam began his life with the Sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must first enter into God’s rest, and then alone can he work.”

Jesus was teaching the same principle to Martha when she saw Mary sitting at the feet of Christ while she was “cumbered about much serving.” It is also a reminder to every minister today that sitting must precede doing. At the feet of someone else, learning and growing, is always the first step towards a God-ordained ministry.

2.     Sitting is needful

If I am to write my own version of the Bible, I would paraphrase what Jesus said in Luke 10:42 and write, “Martha, sitting [learning] is needful in the ministry. So, please sit down!”

3.     Sitting is the good part

Why did Jesus describe Mary’s choice as the good part? It’s because it “shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42b). There is a kind of wealth that can soon vanish or be stolen. However, wisdom is something that cannot be taken away from us. Joe Paprocki said,

What do you have that cannot be taken away? If you can identify and cultivate the answer to that question, you’ll be on your way to spiritual wellness. If you lose sight of it, you’ll be opening the door of your soul to a host of unwelcome little gremlins that can mess you up. A great deal of our unhappiness in life can be traced to our fears about losing what we have: possessions, status, talents, and so on . . . If something cannot be taken away from you, then you have no reason to be insecure.

Joe Paprocki

God helps those who help themselves. Effective ministry has its price. If we are not willing to learn on a regular basis, our God-given ministries will never flourish. Therefore, sit down and learn, ministers of God.