“So what are you going to do when you retire?”
“Believe it or not, going back to school!”
“Are you going to audit courses?”
“Better, I am going to pay a professor to sit down with me and answer questions that I have been collecting over the years.”
I was speaking to a surgeon colleague who was reveling in his future retirement plans.His answer was intriguing since it was not the usual retirement activity that I was accustomed to hearing.
“What kind of questions?”
He smiled. “I am going to find professors to explain things like String theory, superconductivity, and nuclear fusion.”
“Interesting…but can’t you just read a book?”
“I have, but books can only take you so far. I want to pick their brains.”
“I see. And when you get the answers you want, what will you do with this information?”
“Nothing. This is just to satisfy my curiosity.”
I admired my colleague’s willingness to do this. I have thought of doing something similar such as auditing college classes in subjects that I wished to explore in greater depth. Yet, is it just to sate my curiosity or is there a greater purpose for this learning?
The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.
Isaiah 50:4 (NLT)
When I confessed and repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, God reoriented the goals and objectives in my life. No longer was I learning simply to advance my career. He gave me a greater purpose, learning to advance the Good News of Jesus Christ and His promise of salvation and eternal life. Knowledge in areas outside of my occupation enables me to speak to others whom I may not normally encounter. He enables me to obtain this knowledge so that I may comfort and enlighten others to see God’s purpose in everything we do.
Knowledge is a gift from God. It becomes wisdom when it is used to help others and lead them to the source of all knowledge-Jesus Christ.
Amen!
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 