September 1, 2024
THE CHALLENGE OF LEARNING FROM OTHERS
PART I & II
HOW CAN I BECOME WISE LIKE DANIEL?
1. Make a commitment to never stop learning.
Proverbs 23:12 – Commit yourself to instruction; and tune your ears to hear words of knowledge.
Ecc. 10:10 – If an ax is dull and its edge is unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
Proverbs 19:8 – Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn, and you will prosper
2. Learn the lessons of the prior generations.
Job 8:8-9 – Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned, for we were born only yesterday, and we know so little.
I Cor. 10:6-11 – These things occurred as examples to warn us and keep us from wanting to do the same evil things they did. For Scripture says that we should avoid drunken parties, sexual immorality and worshiping things that aren’t God. We should not test the Lord’s patience or grumble and complain as some did and died. These things happen as examples and were written down as warnings for us.
3. Maintain a humble attitude that honors God.
Proverbs 15:33 – Reverence for the Lord is an education in itself. You must be humble before you can ever receive honors.
James 4:6b – God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
4. Refuse to fill your mind with garbage.
Proverbs 15:14 – A wise person is hungry for the truth, while the fool feeds on trash.
5. Put into practice what we’ve already learned.
King Belshazzar lost everything because he failed to do this.
Daniel 5:22 – Daniel said, “King Belshazzar, even though you knew all that happened to your father, (Nebuchadnezzar), you didn’t learn from his life and you still refused to humble yourself (before God) who rules from heaven.
King Belshazzar made 3 fatal mistakes
THE LESSON
If I don’t humbly learn from generations before me, I will end up making the same mistakes.
I Timothy 6:21b – Some people have missed the most important thing in life, they don’t know God!