When viewed as a continual learning process, life can take on wonderful, greater meaning for each of us. Life is to be a continual learning process. Some learning experiences come unexpectedly through our actions and experiences. Others come from our striving to learn each day. Striving to learn keeps the mind alive and life juices flowing. Without striving to learn, our brains stagnate, and as stagnated water breeds the stench of death, so will the stagnation of our brain cells.
I searched for years trying to find an occupation where after your initial orientation training, you never had to do any further training. Not that I was looking for work, I simply thought surely there were jobs like that. No one has ever been able to point to any job where there is not additional training from time to time. There is always safety training, new technology, new systems or procedures, always some new or next level training.
Every job in the corporate world has continual training to better your work, and the organization’s production rate. Each one of those jobs’ deals with the temporary, the here and now. In the church we deal with the eternal. Doesn’t it make sense that we should also have continual training to be more efficient and proficient at carrying out our tasks? Yet in the church we often neglect to train and equip for Kingdom work. Very little training is ever offered to new position holders and less continual training.
It should be imperative in the church; we should always be on the search to improve our service to God for His Kingdom. God has created us to be life-long learners. This includes being better equipped to serve Him by serving others.
The third tenet of the Great Commission is “teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you…” Notice the word “teaching” is present tense. It is a continual action. It does not suggest a stopping point. It is not about the past. Also, note, how the Disciples knew what to teach? Jesus had been teaching them throughout His ministry – and would continue to teach through His Word and The Holy Spirit.
We may not have Jesus walking physically beside us, but we do have His written Word. We also have men and women God has taught to be able to train and equip us. Today’s advancement in technology gives us greater capability for equipping than any previous generation. 2 Timothy 2:2 states, “And these things you have seen and heard from me, commit to others, so they may be able to teach others also.”
Jesus taught His disciples, who taught others, who taught others, who taught others, through the ages, until someone brought His teachings to you. You and I have an obligation and a privilege to thirst and hunger for more equipping as long as there is breath in us. Drink in His teaching, and teach others as well. This is fulfillment of The Great Commission.
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.