The business of noble Christian living is learning. We know nothing when we begin. On the tomb of an English historian is the inscription, “He died learning.” Learning is not confined to books. Life itself is a school — lessons are continually set for us.
Paul tells us of one such lesson: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” We’re glad to know Paul had to learn to be content. We might think he always knew how to live nobly, but even he had to be taught. He was well on in years when he said this, showing it took time and effort to learn.
Hebrews 5:8 tells us that even Jesus “learned obedience from what He suffered.” In Gethsemane, we see Him learning submission. His humanity meant He, too, had to learn contentment, patience, and endurance. He learned to return kindness for unkindness, and to accept suffering without resentment.
We are all in Christ’s school. Disciples are learners, and we begin in the lowest grade. Every new experience is a new lesson from the Master Teacher.
Temptation is one of these lessons. When trials come, we may ask why God permits them. The devil tempts us to sin, but God uses temptation to strengthen and prepare us. Jesus, though sinless, was tempted. Because He overcame, He can help us when we are tempted.
One who resists temptation becomes a source of strength to others. A single faithful Christian can inspire many; one failure can discourage many. Knowing others will follow our example should urge us to stand firm. And we need not fail. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man…God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Sorrow is another lesson. It is not meaningless. If God allows it, it must have a purpose. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) The comfort God gives makes the sorrow itself a blessing.
We shrink from suffering, but some things are dearer than ease — like faith, love, and spiritual growth. Lessons learned through pain often repay a thousandfold. Some wonder how a loving God could allow so much suffering. But God’s own heart did break — on the cross. From that sorrow came blessing for the world.
Jesus didn’t say mourning is good in itself, but that the comfort of God is blessed. Those who receive His comfort are lifted into a deeper experience of His love. A man who had lived many years caring for a chronically ill wife once said that all that was good in his life came from the sorrow he had borne. He learned to rejoice in the trial. He accepted the lesson — and was blessed.
The Bible tells us that God preserves our tears (Psalm 56:8). Even our sorrows are precious to Him. In heaven, we will see that our best lessons came through our tears.
Christian graces must all be learned. Paul learned contentment — not through ease, but through suffering and lack. He found such fullness in Christ that secondary things no longer mattered. We might learn this better if we experienced more need. Unbroken comfort doesn’t teach contentment. Sometimes God must remove the sunshine to show us the beauty of the dark.
Patience is another hard lesson. Many of us are impatient — with others, with circumstances. A teacher once rebuked a slow student, who responded, “I am doing the very best I can.” The teacher later regretted his harshness. Impatience often limits our usefulness. Even Moses lost the Promised Land through one outburst of impatience.
Ruskin once wrote to his children: “Keep sweetly calm of temper under all circumstances, recognizing the thing that is provoking you — as coming directly from Christ’s hand.” The more it provokes, the more we should thank Him for trusting us with a hard lesson. If we are inclined to become impatient or harsh, it shows we have not yet learned.
Sickness also brings lessons. When the doctor sends you to rest, it may be God’s way of saying, “Be still and learn.” If people pray for your healing, they should also pray that the sickness accomplishes its mission. It would be tragic to recover physically — but miss the spiritual lesson.
Ask God what He is teaching you through illness or trial. None of it is purposeless. Life becomes sacred when we see it as Christ’s school. The Master is always saying, “Come unto Me, and learn of Me.” Are we learning?
Some make it a rule to learn one new fact each day. Goethe said we should daily see one beautiful thing, hear one sweet sound, or read one fine poem. In Christ’s school, we should aim daily to learn one new lesson, add one new line of beauty to our character.
J. R. Miller (1840-1912) was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain. This is an edited version of his original.
