A Journey of Lifelong Learning Starts with This Choice by Rick Warren

“Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge” (Proverbs 23:12 NLT).

Your journey of lifelong learning starts with a choice. It’s a choice only you can make. It’s an incredibly important decision that’ll impact your entire life.

The Bible says, “Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge” (Proverbs 23:12 NLT).

I made this commitment to keep learning when I was 15 years old. I began saying that I would learn as much as I could. For many years I read at least a book a day. I started collecting books as a teenager, and I have more than 35,000 volumes in my library now. Books open the door to every subject imaginable.

Your education doesn’t stop when you graduate. I’ve actually heard people say, “I’m glad I’ve finished my education so now I can start my career.” Tell that one to God, and he’ll laugh. God has so much more he wants to teach you! Your education should never end.

Learning isn’t a stage of life; it is your life! God wants you to learn something new every day. So don’t stop — ever!

Start working on learning a new skill this year. God wants you to grow. You should be and can be different — better — a year from now than you are today.

It’s in your best interest to do so. Lifelong learning will make you a better leader, a better parent, a better spouse, a better friend. It’ll make you more effective in your job. It brings both success and profit.

The Bible says, “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10 NIV).

If you’ve got an ax with a dull blade and you’re chopping wood, it’ll take a lot more energy to do it. If your ax is sharp (which represents skill in this verse), then it doesn’t take as much effort.

The Bible is saying to work smarter, not harder. You’re never wasting time when you’re sharpening your ax.

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Talk It Over

What’s your preferred way of learning new information or new skills — take a class, read a book, talk to a mentor, or some other method? How can that help you to be a lifelong learner?
What’s something you’ve learned more about this year that has really helped you in life?
Consider this: When you read these devotionals, read a book, or take a seminar, you’re sharpening your spiritual ax. What’s one other specific way you’re sharpening your ax?