Balancing Knowledge

Hosea 4:6; 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

            Someone has said, “The more you know, the more you understand how much you don’t know!”  (Or words to that effect) It’s true.  Knowledge among various disciplines is interrelated, and the more one learns, the more he/she sees the need to expand their horizons.  Knowledge is cumulative; it builds upon itself.  This is no more evident than in the area of mathematics.  If the foundations of basic arithmetic are not solid, progress in algebra, statistics, geometry, calculus, etc. is doomed.

            The capacity to learn was given to man by God as part of the divine image.  Knowledge is important in God’s scheme of things.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).  If a person fails to learn of God and to attend to His instruction, in the end he/she will be a failure no matter what worldly accomplishments are achieved.

            The Lord, through the prophet Hosea, pointed out the need for knowledge to His people Israel: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...”  Israel had not so much forgotten the Lord God Himself but had “forgotten the law of your God.”  They did not retain the words of the Almighty nor seek to follow His commandments.  Consequently, they had fallen into idolatry and all sorts of sinful behavior.  As a result, God was giving them up to destruction.

            However necessary knowledge is, it can be detrimental.  Paul warns the Corinthian brethren that “knowledge makes arrogant” (puffs up).  This is knowledge for knowledge’s sake.  To become a library of scripture knowledge or a fountain of Bible trivia but fail to put it to use is a vain thing.  We see that this is Paul’s point for in the next thought he says, “but love edifies” (or builds up).  Love puts its knowledge to use in its own life and for the benefit of others.  Love will take what it knows and build up the faith and works of the whole congregation.

            So we see the need to keep knowledge in proper balance.  Learning the truths of God’s word is necessary for growing as a Christian.  Putting the knowledge learned into practice is just as needful.  Let us work hard to do both.

                                                            ><>  Jeff