The following is an excerpt from the chapter, “Being Doers of the Word”, in the latest book, Studies on Living in the Power of God’s Word, Vol. 1.
Use it or Lose It. Teachings about learning and applying truth carry with them an interesting twist that seems to parallel natural human learning. As human learners, we forget much of what we learn because new learning overshadows what we know, and the old learning fades. Forgetting, it is said, is an “active” process.
Forgetting is certainly a part of our intellectual functioning, and is—it seems—a condition that applies to our spiritual learning as well. Knowledge, even scriptural understanding, can fade over time. The major difference between intellectual information and scriptural truth is that the acquisition and retention of truth has a spiritual component, requiring faith and fellowship. The converse is also true: lack of faith and carnality affect our ability to comprehend and retain truth.
Knowledge also “atrophies” through the absence of “updates” to rejuvenate former learning. This works for spiritual knowledge, the same as it does for academic concepts. When we don’t refresh our learning by repeating it or making application of it in some way, the information tends to become disconnected and eventually lost.
This is why Peter saw fit to say, "I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body." (II Pet. 1:12-13)
He adds to this declaration by saying, in v. 15, “And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” So remembering Scripture has the same requirement for repetition and reminders that any human learning does. This means that we can never stop studying the scriptures, even if we “know them and are firmly established in the truth” (v. 12). We will progress to “meatier” doctrines as we grow in knowledge and faith, but we must also keep the “milk” fresh.
We see an illustration and enlargement of this principle in Mark 4:25-26, which says this:“'Consider carefully what you hear,' he [Jesus] continued. 'With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.'”
“Consider” means to focus and think about what you learn. And the amount you receive and accept is the amount you will “process” (the amount that is “measured” to you). You will increase your understanding, because the information will be cycled into your heart for application. Then you can use it. Furthermore, whoever is in possession of truth, because they have learned it and believed it, will receive even more truth. Learning increases capacity for more learning. On the other hand, the believer who has little understanding of the Word, and/or does not continue to update, believe, and use what he has, will lose it.
But there’s more. Not only does “forgetting” take place to diminish our scriptural inventory, Mark 4:15 tells us that Satan is standing by to snatch learning away from us. This is another “active” process of losing insight, knowledge, and discernment. Any spiritual slippage will increase Satan’s influence in this regard, and accelerate loss of spiritual perspective. This is a scene where the lights are going dim, and the path is becoming increasingly obscured.
In summary, if we receive additional teaching, and accept it by faith, and then put what we learn to use, we will get more. On the other hand, if we refuse to study, or reject what we learn, or do not apply the teachings within our daily lives, WE WILL LOSE THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE ACQUIRED.Fortunately, God seems to allow us to recover quickly when we return to our studies, enabling us to build rapidly on things we learned previously…but in the meantime, we are unsophisticated, uninformed, and unequipped. Return to the Word! Turn…and learn…to discern.
Use it or Lose It. Teachings about learning and applying truth carry with them an interesting twist that seems to parallel natural human learning. As human learners, we forget much of what we learn because new learning overshadows what we know, and the old learning fades. Forgetting, it is said, is an “active” process.
Forgetting is certainly a part of our intellectual functioning, and is—it seems—a condition that applies to our spiritual learning as well. Knowledge, even scriptural understanding, can fade over time. The major difference between intellectual information and scriptural truth is that the acquisition and retention of truth has a spiritual component, requiring faith and fellowship. The converse is also true: lack of faith and carnality affect our ability to comprehend and retain truth.
Knowledge also “atrophies” through the absence of “updates” to rejuvenate former learning. This works for spiritual knowledge, the same as it does for academic concepts. When we don’t refresh our learning by repeating it or making application of it in some way, the information tends to become disconnected and eventually lost.
This is why Peter saw fit to say, "I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body." (II Pet. 1:12-13)
He adds to this declaration by saying, in v. 15, “And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” So remembering Scripture has the same requirement for repetition and reminders that any human learning does. This means that we can never stop studying the scriptures, even if we “know them and are firmly established in the truth” (v. 12). We will progress to “meatier” doctrines as we grow in knowledge and faith, but we must also keep the “milk” fresh.
We see an illustration and enlargement of this principle in Mark 4:25-26, which says this:“'Consider carefully what you hear,' he [Jesus] continued. 'With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.'”
“Consider” means to focus and think about what you learn. And the amount you receive and accept is the amount you will “process” (the amount that is “measured” to you). You will increase your understanding, because the information will be cycled into your heart for application. Then you can use it. Furthermore, whoever is in possession of truth, because they have learned it and believed it, will receive even more truth. Learning increases capacity for more learning. On the other hand, the believer who has little understanding of the Word, and/or does not continue to update, believe, and use what he has, will lose it.
But there’s more. Not only does “forgetting” take place to diminish our scriptural inventory, Mark 4:15 tells us that Satan is standing by to snatch learning away from us. This is another “active” process of losing insight, knowledge, and discernment. Any spiritual slippage will increase Satan’s influence in this regard, and accelerate loss of spiritual perspective. This is a scene where the lights are going dim, and the path is becoming increasingly obscured.
In summary, if we receive additional teaching, and accept it by faith, and then put what we learn to use, we will get more. On the other hand, if we refuse to study, or reject what we learn, or do not apply the teachings within our daily lives, WE WILL LOSE THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE ACQUIRED.Fortunately, God seems to allow us to recover quickly when we return to our studies, enabling us to build rapidly on things we learned previously…but in the meantime, we are unsophisticated, uninformed, and unequipped. Return to the Word! Turn…and learn…to discern.
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