I’ve Learned Enough

In the course of their conversation at a dinner party, Albert Einstein's young neighbor asked the white-haired scientist, "What are you actually by profession?"  "I devote myself to the study of physics," Einstein replied.  The girl looked at him in astonishment. "You mean to say you study physics at your age?" she exclaimed. "I finished studying physics a year ago” (Today in the Word, September 25, 1992).

Even though most people never stop learning completely, some people get to a point where they feel they can coast on their current knowledge.  With the added pressure and strain coming from finals, students of all ages have been eagerly longing for the time when they can finish their studies.  The finish line may come in the form of a summer vacation or possibly even a degree.  While breaks are a good and much needed part of learning and keeping ourselves from being burnt out, people seem to be looking for the day when they can finally stop learning. 

This mindset is common in education, but it happens with our knowledge of the Bible as well.  Some develop great habits of Bible study but then think they are able to glide from there.  We need to remind ourselves that God commands spiritual growth (Ephesians 4:14-16; Hebrews 5:12:14;).  He calls for us to “increase in knowledge” (Colossians 1:9-10), to “grow in respect to salvation” as well as to grown in “grace and knowledge” (1 Peter 2:1-2; 3:18).

Maybe some of Einstein’s wisdom came with his age, but he seemed to understand there was still much more to learn.  Let’s never allow ourselves to get to the point, much less the arrogant mindset, where we think we have learned enough about Scripture.