“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left: to the end that he may prolong [his] days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.” Deuteronomy 17:18-20.
The Biblical Mandate for Lifelong Learning
In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible mandates lifelong learning.
In the Torah (the five books of Moses), the king was commanded by God to copy by hand the entire five books of Moses and to use them as his own personal Bible. Furthermore, he was commanded to read and learn from it every day, all the days of his life. Thus God commanded the King of Israel to learn something new every day of his life. (See the opening text.)
The apostle Peter says that each believer is a king or queen with Christ. We are a royal priesthood.
“But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” I Peter 2:9.
If we are royalty, then the commandment given to the King of Israel applies to each and every believer in the Christian era. Are you practicing lifelong learning?
Lifelong learning is not just learning anything, or learning with no end in mind, but rather learning with a definite purpose—to develop mind, body, and spirit for the glory of God. We need to pursue different avenues opened to us by the leading of God to enhance our talents, and to multiply and refine them, for the Lord’s return.
The principle of lifelong learning was taught by Jesus Christ in his parable of the talents. Each believer receives a certain number of talents and is expected to multiple them according to his or her ability with the help of God. Those who continue learning throughout life will be commended by God Himself.
“His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21.
Paul, in the name of Jesus Christ, also promoted lifelong learning. As a matter of fact, according to many theologians, the first book written in the New Testament was the first letter to the Thessalonians. In it, Paul taught the followers of Christ to study and obey good principles.
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” I Thessalonians 5:21.
The KJV says to “prove all things,” but the Spanish Reina Valera urges us to “study all things and hold on to that which is good.”
Teachers Above All Must Practice Lifelong Learning
Preachers and teachers especially are to study continually. Paul encouraged Timothy to study so that he could properly interpret the word of God.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.
Teachers who cease to learn cease to be good teachers. I had a remarkable professor named Sydney Grant, who had been the Dean of the College of Education at Florida State University. He had also been part of the teams that established the public educational systems in South Korea and Namibia. He told us that he always rewrote his lectures before giving them in class. Following in his footsteps, I usually rewrite or revise my sermons before preaching.
Dr. Grant also taught us to keep a journal—a daily journal for reflection and learning. I am now on my 137th volume of my personal journal. Every day, I write in this journal not only my day’s activities but also names, places, and events of interest and relevance to God’s providence in my life and in the lives of those who cross my path. In these volumes, I also record the seeds of sermons to be shared with congregations around the world.
The great sculptor Michelangelo was found one day walking in solitude amid the ruins of the coliseum in Rome, keenly observing the remnants of the works of the ancient artists. Cardinal Farnese expressed his surprise in seeing the great Michelangelo scrutinizing rubble. “I go yet to school that I may continue to learn,” replied the sculptor. Michelangelo sculpted many great men and women of the Bible, including Moses, David, Mary, and Jesus. If we are to model Jesus in our lives and characters, we too must never stop learning.
The Advantages of Lifelong Learning
Recently, a recipient of an honorary doctoral degree at the University of Leicester told the graduating class of 2019 that his lecture would probably be the last formal discourse many in the audience would ever listen to in their lifetimes. Yet if you belong to a professional association or hold a license in any field, continuing education is mandatory to renew and maintain your license. Furthermore, I hope that as Christian teachers we participate in our local churches and conferences and conduct Bible studies as well as continuing our professional education.
Formal education has its place. In America, some teachers have placed bumper stickers such as the following on their automobiles:
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”
“If you can read this, thank a teacher.”
Clearly, there are mental, physical, social, and spiritual benefits to both formal and informal education. Formal education may be the pathway to higher pay, a better job, and personal satisfaction. Yet informal lifelong learning, which occurs outside the formal classroom or academic setting, may provide the greatest benefits. Those experiences, however, should have a purpose-driven agenda—to equip one's self and others to witness for Jesus Christ, to share the Present Truth within a modern context, and to enhance our abilities to serve others.
Healthwise, lifelong learning may improve mental and physical health and our short- and long-term memories, as well as enhance our wisdom. Lifelong learning may decrease the risk of chronic disease, and contribute to longevity. As we age, the risk of dementia increases, but continuing to learn and exercise our minds contributes to mental health. Lifelong learning helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The longer we are fit, the longer we may continue our service-oriented occupations. The longer we live with a sound mind in a sound body, the longer we will be able to do more good things like seeking souls for the kingdom.
There are also social advantages to lifelong learning, which need not be limited to book knowledge. Lifelong learning includes travel—exposing ourselves to new cultures, visiting archaeological and historical sites, touring museums, and broadening one’s horizons and human experiences in other ways. All this should lead to greater understanding, tolerance, and appreciation for other people groups and events in life and even allows us to comprehend our own cultures, experiences, and heritages in new ways.
Lifelong learning will enhance our personal identities and enrich us as individuals to carry out our God-given missions to educate, educate, educate. Learning a new language expands the number of people we can talk to in their native languages about the good news of Jesus. Such study includes learning the culture and values of the ethnic group in which the language developed. Learning a new language breaks down the barriers of communication and serves as a bridge for sharing the gospel.
As we age, our experience bank and knowledge base should also increase, making us more lenient and open to the perspectives, manners, and customs of others. As God is tolerant with us, we should also be tolerant with our students regardless of their ethnicities, races, or religious orientations. Each is a soul for whom Jesus died. He has a unique mission for each of our students as well as for us as teachers. As God accepts us as we are and seeks to enrich and empower our existences, so should each teacher labor to enhance the experiences and moral development of peers and pupils.
Examples of Lifelong Learning
Our brains are not utilized to their ultimate potential without lifelong learning. Our minds were created to observe, learn, laugh, reason, and worship. We truly can learn much from reading the Scriptures and the Testimonies as well as biographies of great men and women who made significant contributions to society. Although we learn most from our own failures and experiences, there is something to be said about reading about the triumphs and defeats of others. We can gain significant insights vicariously from them, especially from the men and women in the hall of faith. A review of their lives may enrich our own and help us decipher enigmas in our Christian paths. Their narratives may also assist us in counseling our peers and pupils. As the apostle Paul wrote,
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4.
Besides reading, learning a new language, and traveling abroad, there are many other ways to engage in lifelong learning. Take a university course outside your area of expertise. Attend church conferences and symposiums. Ask to be placed on the roster of speakers. Write articles for a church paper, local newspaper, magazine, or professional organization. Get on the radio and share your expertise, remembering to insert pearls of wisdom from the Word of God. Write your memoires or a book on a beneficial topic for the lay public to read. Regularly teach Sabbath school at your local church and/or give lectures at your community center. As teachers we are duty bound to share the truth with all.
“Preach [and teach] the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2.
Learning with Teaching in Mind
The Testimonies encourage us never to stop learning and to learn for the purpose of sharing with others what is good and essential to know. For as long as life may last, we are encouraged to learn as much as we can with the goal of sharing with others.
“Let their field of study be as broad as their powers can compass. And, as they learn, let them impart their knowledge. It is thus that their minds will acquire discipline and power. It is the use they make of knowledge that determines the value of their education. To spend a long time in study, with no effort to impart what is gained, often proves a hindrance rather than a help to real development. In both the home and the school it should be the student's effort to learn how to study and how to impart the knowledge gained. Whatever his calling, he is to be both a learner and a teacher as long as life shall last.”[1]
José Martí said, “If you want to learn, teach.” It is when we share our knowledge and experiences with others that we actually teach ourselves and retain more in our memory banks .
Paul shared the same concept with Timothy. The great apostle taught Timothy to continue to learn as long as he lived and to share the truth with others. Timothy was encouraged to read and to exhort, or teach, others. In doing so, he would contribute to both his own development and that of others.
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” I Timothy 4:13, 16.
Professor E. A. Sutherland understood the need to learn with educating others in mind:
“God calls for messengers who will be true reformers. We must educate, educate, to prepare a people who will understand the message, and then give the message to the people.”[2]
Learning with Persistence and Commitment in Mind
As the book No Limits to Learning states, it takes a lot of perseverance to achieve mastery of a subject or skill. Thus, pursuing lifelong learning requires commitment and endeavor.
“If we consider the eight hours per day a violinist practices, or the equal amount of time spent by a student of mathematics in solving problems, we quickly realize [that] the success in both art and science is the result of endeavor, commitment, and tension.”[3]
I have noticed that the teacher-learner must have a genuine interest in the skill or subject to be learned.
“The law of the learner, then, may be stated as follows: The learner must attend with interest to the material to be learned.”[4]
Next, the lag time in learning a new skill or subject should be minimized so that its acquirement can be realized. Solomon tells us that we need to expedite our duties, not postpone them indefinitely. Of course, this requires a rescheduling of priorities, a restructuring of how we use our leisure time.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might….” Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Ironically, as we pursue a course of life-learning we will realize that there truly is a joy in learning and sharing, and it is limitless.
“Both in divine revelation and in nature, God has given to men mysteries to command their faith. This must be so. We may be ever searching, ever inquiring, ever learning, and yet there is an infinity beyond.”[5]
In the End—God and Eternity
Perhaps one of the greatest surprises in heaven for educators will be that each and every new skill, subject, and matter that we studied and shared with others related to nature, science, and salvation here on earth will be expanded in the world to come. One day those who have pursued lifelong learning will realize that God will reward them with eternity, a life that measures with the life of God. They will be blessed to be ever learning and sharing with now unknown inhabitants in worlds beyond our galaxy, for as they have lived here on earth, God will allow them to live with Him beyond the stars. So, for the glory of God, why not pursue lifelong learning now?
By Pastor Idel Suarez Jr., Ph.D., M.S., Pg.D.
Biographical Note about the Author
Pastor Idel Suarez Jr. completed his dissertation among third- and sixth-graders in public school. He holds a Ph.D. in nutrition education. He also taught high school at his former alma mater in the state of Florida, United States. He has been a visiting lecturer at a number of missionary institutes, including Bethel in Hungary, GAMI in Ghana, BAMI in Kenya, INSETES in Colombia, and Bethesda in Georgia, United States. He was also a visiting adjunct professor for a short time at the College of Public Health of the University of South Florida. Recently, he enrolled in university studies again after a respite of 26 years and, after a two-year postgraduate course of study with the University of Leicester, Leicester, England, he obtained a degree in Classical Mediterranean studies, concentrating on Ancient Roman History.
[1]. Ellen G. White, Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1942), 402.
[2]. E.A. Sutherland, Studies in Christian Education (Grants Pass, OR: Echoes from the Past, n.d.), 141.
[3]. James W. Botkin, Mahdi Elmandjra, and Mircea Malitza, No Limits to Learning: Bridging the Human Gap (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1988), 33.
[4]. John Milton Gregory, The Seven Laws of Teaching, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976), 37.
[5]. Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1948), 261.
