Learn-it-all

The Book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, one of the wisest men in the Bible. This book was originally written for the young people who were being groomed for positions of leadership. The centralization of the government of Israel twelve tribes under David and Solomon changed permanently the Israelites’ way of life. The whole empire was busy with building projects, international diplomacy and trade, census, all kinds of military and law procedures.

Although Proverbs was originally written for the young men in the ancient Israel, its teachings are useful for everyone who is seeking wisdom and has a desire to learn. The word learning in Hebrews is “lekah.” This word means “the ability to teach with such grace that the hearers love learning and the humility to realize that true education never ends.” In sum, Lekah or learning means “never know-it-all” but “ever learn-it-all.”

In terms of learning there are three kinds of people:

1. Ordinary person ~ learn-it-all by ourselves

We can learn-it-all by ourselves. For this we need to have at least two capacities: curiosity and independence. Curiosity will drive us to acquire knowledge whenever it is possible with whatever means. Then, an independent person will be self-motivated. He or she will not be influenced by the surrounding circumstances. However, learning without a purpose will only lead us to endless pursuit. In whatever we learn we need to have a purpose and in learning, our knowledge must grow in all dimensions – breadth, depth, and height.

2. Smart person ~ learn-it-all from others

A popular saying goes like this “we cannot live long enough to learn from our experience.” And the good news is we can learn from others. In fact, the Book of Proverbs strongly urges for everyone who has the love of learning to learn also from others. A smart person will know that true education never ends: “A wise person will hear and increase in learning. And a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel (1:5).”

A learning person will hear. They are humble and teachable. We will stop learning from others when we become too proud, too stubborn or too self-sufficient. A teachable person will remain open-minded and will always be open for guidance, advice, and instruction so they will have a clear direction in life and in everything they do.

"Give instruction to a wise person, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just person, and he will increase in learning." We can always grow further in it (9:9)

A learning person particularly will not despise their parent’s teachings, including the spiritual parents: “Hear my child, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; Indeed, they are graceful to your head And ornaments about your neck (1:9)”

3. Godly person ~ learn-it-all with God

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Knowledge and wisdom begin and end with God. We can learn-it-all the wisdom of the world by ourselves, from other people, but ultimately we need to learn-it-all with God. Only when we are connected to God, the source of wisdom and grace, we will have power and grace in all that we learn and cultivate. (PLT)