Press on in Learning a New Language: All for the Glory of God

Press on in Learning a New Language: All for the Glory of God

          Are you learning a new language? For school, missions, for knowing the Bible better? Or maybe just for fun? Whatever the reason, press on, it will be worthwhile. I’m writing on this topic from my conviction, experience, and also to encourage you not to quite in your learning.

            In the first place, why are there so many languages? Originally there was just one people group with all the same language. The history of this question actually goes all the way back to Genesis. Catch this:

“Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

3 And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’ And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.

4 Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.’

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.

6 And the Lord said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.’

8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.

9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:1-9

Now realize in verse four, they said “ourselves” twice. They had there mindset on themselves rather than Christ our superior satisfaction. God justly punished, through confusing their languages.

Now to switch the topic, I’m in the process right now of trying to learn Chinese. It’s about my third year in learning a second language. In the past while, God has made a change in my attitude and desire to learn Chinese. At first I was doing it for school and wanted to be done as quickly as possible, speak it fluent right away and go to China and speak it. It was a great plan. But then I started to realize that for any language, it takes time, endurance, messing up, and repeating regularly. At times I enjoyed it, and other times it was frustrating and hard. I still definitely have more time to spend on it. But whether or not I ever use Chinese in my life, it’s still a huge help. Through learning hard things and new things will stretch your attitude and mindset into whoever Christ wills you to be.

Five reasons to press forward in learning a second language:

1.      You get to personally see your mind work and engage (God working within you)

2.      It may help the gospel be further known (Missions)

3.      It can also grow your learning and studying skills

4.      Grow your patience and endurance

 

5.      Further the understanding of God’s word (Learning Hebrew and Greek)

In this week’s conclusion I found a great video that might be helpful and encouraging to you. Hope you enjoy glory to God!    

Encouragement to Those Learning a Second Language from Desiring God on Vimeo.