BE DIFFERENT; Be Curious
When I was in primary school, I did not like learning.
I didn’t like learning maths or spelling or handwriting.
I definitely didn’t like learning sport.
I was happy reading books but didn’t like writing answers to comprehension questions!
Do you like learning?
When I went to lessons in the library, our librarian taught us how to find out information that we might be interested to know. He showed us reference cards and the catalogue system. It was all very confusing.
Information I was after was always to do with schoolwork though. What was I actually interested in?
I loved art and drawing. Playing board games. Cards. No, I wasn’t really curious for information.
I was always working towards mastery.
Studies have shown that highly motivating tasks are done when the person is interested and has chosen the topic.
Studies have also shown that highly motivating tasks are done when the person is working towards mastering a skill.
Mastering something (becoming a master at something) takes 10,000 hours on average.
Studies have also shown that highly motivating tasks are done when the person is working towards a goal with a deeper purpose.
To learn more about God and Jesus and the world he created and to work out the place that God has for you here on earth, is a very deep purpose. There is much to learn and master. But it is easiest to do it if we believe it is important.
Can we work towards mastery of being a disciple of Jesus?
What do you think?
What are you interested in? What are you curious about?
Documentaries (factual tv shows) can be fascinating if you are interested in the topic.
Do you like watching documentaries or reading factual texts?
Maybe ones on animals? Reptiles? Bush survival? How to do different hair styles? Fishing? Boating? How the body works? Sport? Maybe you know all the players and statistics to do with your favourite sport? Music? Do you love listening to one style of music over and over? Do you know all the best artists for that genre?
My brother-in-law is the most curious person I know. His name is Tom and he loves learning things he is interested in, and has mastered so many skills. He spent many years training a dog, he has spent a long time walking a slack line, he completed an ultramarathon, running 100km in a day, he has spent many years at theological college studying the bible. But he generally only learns things that he wants to learn.
Bible Passage: Hebrews 6:1,3
“We must try to become mature and start thinking about more than just the basic things we were taught about Christ. We shouldn’t need to keep talking about why we ought to turn from deeds that bring death and why we ought to have faith in God… Let’s grow up, if God is willing.”
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
“You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. You could not take solid food, and you still cannot.”
Growing up is important, and to do that you need to learn more and more about Jesus.
Bible Passage: Psalm 1:1-2
God blesses those people
who refuse evil advice
and won’t follow sinners
or join in sneering at God.
Instead, the Law of the Lord
makes them happy,
and they think about it
day and night.
Story Time!
Bible Passage: 2 Kings 22
Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled thirty-one years from Jerusalem. His mother Jedidah was the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath. Josiah always obeyed the Lord, just as his ancestor David had done.
After Josiah had been king for eighteen years, he told Shaphan, one of his highest officials:
Go to the Lord’s temple and ask Hilkiah the high priest to collect from the guards all the money that the people have donated. Have Hilkiah give it to the men supervising the repairs to the temple. They can use some of the money to pay the workers, and with the rest of it they can buy wood and stone for the repair work. They are honest, so we won’t ask them to keep track of the money.
While Shaphan was at the temple, Hilkiah handed him a book and said, “Look what I found here in the temple—The Book of God’s Law.”
Shaphan read it,then went back to Josiah and reported, “Your officials collected the money in the temple and gave it to the men supervising the repairs. But there’s something else, Your Majesty. The priest Hilkiah gave me this book.” Then Shaphan read it out loud.
When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God’s Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow.At once he called together Hilkiah, Shaphan, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, and his own servant Asaiah. He said,“The Lord must be furious with me and everyone else in Judah, because our ancestors did not obey the laws written in this book. Go find out what the Lord wants us to do.”
The five men left right away and went to talk with Huldah the prophet. Her husband was Shallum, who was in charge of the king’s clothes. Huldah lived in the northern part of Jerusalem, and when they met in her home,she said:
You were sent here by King Josiah, and this is what the Lord God of Israel says to him: “Josiah, I am the Lord! And I will see to it that this country and everyone living in it will be destroyed. It will happen just as this book says. The people of Judah have rejected me. They have offered sacrifices to foreign gods and have worshiped their own idols. I cannot stand it any longer. I am furious.
"Josiah, listen to what I am going to do.I noticed how sad you were when you read that this country and its people would be completely wiped out. You even tore your clothes in sorrow, and I heard you cry.So I will let you die in peace, before I destroy this place.”
The men left and took Huldah’s answer back to Josiah.”
Bible Passage: Colossians 1:9-10
“We always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.Then you will live a life that honours the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better.”
Grow in wisdom and understanding. The Holy Spirit can help us.
Let’s want to learn more about God. Let’s desire to dig deep and study and question and discover new things as much as we can!
Question Time!
What is something that you wanted to learn and how did you go about learning it?
Get a notebook and write a list of all the things you want to learn about regarding Christianity. Then go and research it, interview people who may know and write down your findings. This will help you work towards growing in wisdom and knowledge.
If you are not interested in finding out more or discovering new things, pray that God will give you a desire to get to know more about him and everything that he has to teach us.
To keep on learning about God, why not read from his word the Bible every night before bed? Keep listening to The Word On The Street Podcast with your family and going to kids church. Trust him and he will give you a thirst for these things.
