Humility —the key to lifelong learning

Catholic religious education for adults is at its heart the quest to be a lifelong learner of our precious faith. Scripture tells us the key to such an adventure: “With humility comes wisdom” (Prov 11:2). The Bible illustrates at least five areas of our experience that provide common “classrooms” of wisdom. In each, humility serves as the best teacher.

Humility in Conversation

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (Prov 1:5).

Everyday conversations are perhaps the most common classroom we have for learning. The clearest evidence of humility in this setting is a willingness to listen, because it’s a sign that the listener realizes he has something to be taught. The habit of listening is indispensable for the lifelong learner, especially in those situations when he may think he has the least to gain from the speaker.

Children are often ignored as sources of wisdom, yet they can teach us much about the kingdom of heaven (see Matt 18:1–4; 19:13–14).

Humility in Correction

“He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise” (Prov 15:31).

Correction rarely comes to us as adults in the clear-cut words we heard in childhood. Instead, the “rebuke” we receive may be couched as a spouse’s complaint or an employer’s negative comment on a job evaluation. More often, an offended neighbor simply avoids us, or a relative grows silent.
Our pride tries to justify or excuse our actions rather than take to heart the wisdom that would change us for the better. Even so, words of correction are priceless occasions for the lifelong learner who can receive them with humility.

Humility Before God’s Word

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isa 66:2).

The Pharisees were diligent students of Scripture, yet most of them could not accept Jesus as the Messiah promised by the prophets. He didn’t quite fit the picture they had drawn from their reading. Their lack of humility had made them unable to learn from others or consider that their thinking might be misguided. When the people marveled at Jesus’ wisdom, their arrogant response was, “This mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them” (John 7:48–49).

The lifelong learners of God’s ways must begin by humbly approaching Scripture and Church teaching, confessing the limits of our understanding.

Humility in the Mundane

“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw” (Prov 24:32).

For the one who is humble enough to learn from them, mundane situations can become a perpetual parable.

Jesus’ teaching was graced with a humility that could perceive divine lessons in everyday objects. “Consider the lilies of the field . . . behold the birds of the air . . . learn a lesson from the fig tree. . . .” His discerning eyes noticed the widow quietly giving her last coins; the banquet guests vying for the place of honor; the short tax collector up a tree — and He drew profound lessons from each situation.

Humility in Adversity

“Although he [Jesus] was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb 5:8).

Tough times provide perhaps the most significant lessons for the lifelong learner. When trouble overwhelms us, we must not ask proudly, “What have I done to deserve this?” The words of the humble assume instead God’s gracious purposes, and seek wisdom with the question, “What would You have me learn through this?”

In all these ways, humility is the path of the lifelong learner.

PAUL THIGPEN, PH.D., is a retired theology professor, award-winning journalist, and bestselling author of 55 books.