Instruction Or Entertainment

REFERENCE: Proverbs 23:12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.

Observation: We have probably all heard the statement, "be a lifetime learner". This verse carries the same sentiment. It is so easy to simply fall back on being entertained rather than instructed. There are so many entertainment outlets all around us. Entertainment is easy, instruction and knowledge are difficult. Entertainment requires only passivity, knowledge and instruction require intentional activity.

How can we commit ourselves to instruction?

o       Be a reader - certainly of God´s Word but also of other good books. We should always have a book or two we are working through.

o       Be a thinker - be willing to consider critically (in the positive sense) the truths that are being taught in what we hear or read. We can not simply accept everything as being true. As the Word says, "test everything".

o       Be a doer - have a clear bias towards putting into action what you are reading and learning. God makes it clear that He is not going to teach us much more until we start putting into practice what we already know.

o       Be a teacher - if we can teach someone else, then we really have the concept down ourselves.

Application/Confession: My ratio between entertainment and instruction is off. I need to do more reading and less TV watching.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I ask you, most importantly, to be my mentor and guide. Instruct me and give me Your knowledge. Then I will be wise indeed.