Note that I am referring to the average Joe believer and not the one called into the ministry who must utilize all the tools of the trade and prepare himself by studying. Knowledge is usually a byproduct and not a goal to see how smart one can become; there is little correlation between education and spiritual maturity or growth. If there was I would certainly be rated a great believer, simply by virtue of my knowledge. Knowledge must be accompanied by wisdom and understanding. "For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction--because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty (Mal. 2:7).
Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and in increasing knowledge results in increased pain" (Eccl. 1:18). The meaning of what Jesus said, "To whom much is given, much is required" applies in that the more we know, the more responsible we are, especially in our sinning and ministry. The goal, Hosea says, is to "go on to know the LORD" It is better to know the Author than to know the Bible, no matter how vital this is. But don't get the fallacious impression that ignorance is bliss! "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Ps. 111:10).
1 Cor. 8:1 says that "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." God hates arrogance and conceit. We overestimate our place in the body and our importance when we know a lot and don't relate to the less informed. We may think of them as a poor specimen because they aren't as clued in as we are and it may be a source of pride. We are not to reject knowledge per se, but it is not the goal, it is the means to an end, and not the end itself. We must always ask ourselves, "Why do I need to know this?" For instance, I don't learn Greek, because I can't justify it, even though it would be a source of pride and I could brag. I asked a friend of mine why he was taking this course and he really hadn't thought about it--it seemed to satisfy idle curiosity it seemed.
Hos. 4:6 warns the priest that has rejected knowledge (it comes with the territory). And "since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD" God will not answer their prayers and let Himself be found by them. For some brethren, it is more pleasing to God that they serve in a soup kitchen or charity than take a theology course to think they are "educated" and "informed" (i.e., a person should know his gift and how God uses him in the body). People erroneously think that "knowledge is power" and this only applies to the right kind used wisely and of spiritual knowledge, otherwise it puffs up (cf. 1 Cor. 8:1).
The man of God knows who God wants him to hearken to and submit to. There are many courses over the internet, for instance, and one must exercise caution and discretion. I like the prayer warrior who replied that he didn't have theology on prayer, he just prayed! Another teacher said, "I don't need another book on prayer, I just need to pray, and I won't find the time, I must make time! Most of us know enough, we just aren't applying enough. The proverb that "curiosity killed the cat" has some validity, in that one may get too enamored with the intellectual side of Christianity and lose its main focus, which is seeking God and doing His will which will glorify Him.
Some people are converted to the program and not to Christ--and this is another danger. If one is too intellectual and not practical, he may be in love with the idea of God, rather than God. God is not looking for some genius to discover His truths (I have been told that I'm the brains behind the program and I don't take this as a compliment, because God is looking for a man after His own heart--it is no accolade to be smart in some one's eyes, but to be able to be a spiritual or spiritual leader is another thing)--He's looking for an open mind, willing spirit, and needy heart to search the Scriptures ("Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life," according to Prov. 4:23; cf. Prov. 23:7) The question is whether a person's heart is in the right place, not how smart he is.
We want to know what God showed you in the Scriptures, not what the experts say: Jesus was contrasted to the Pharisees who quoted the authorities and never footnoted His sermons, but said, " You have heard it said, but I say unto you." "No man ever spoke like Jesus," cf. Matt. 7:29. To be called a scholar is more of an insult than a compliment because he doesn't have first-hand knowledge of the Lord, but only knows what he has read in books. "Of making many books, there is no end, and much study wearies the body" (Eccl. 12:12).
It is so refreshing to talk to a believer who doesn't read any book but the Bible, in contrast to him. We need believers with more than a second-hand knowledge of the Lord. There is knowledge we all can commend: the knowledge of the Lord, which must be contrasted with knowledge about the Lord. This comes from our daily walk in the Spirit. Experience, indeed, is the best teacher, and we should always need someone who has been there and done that or has gone through the school of hard knocks, as it were.
To sum up in a sentence: the gift of knowledge is a gift and we should try to be like them who have been filled with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, not emphasizing and elevating knowledge, but not despising or rejecting it either--it has a place--we are to love God with all our mind, too. Soli Deo Gloria!
Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and in increasing knowledge results in increased pain" (Eccl. 1:18). The meaning of what Jesus said, "To whom much is given, much is required" applies in that the more we know, the more responsible we are, especially in our sinning and ministry. The goal, Hosea says, is to "go on to know the LORD" It is better to know the Author than to know the Bible, no matter how vital this is. But don't get the fallacious impression that ignorance is bliss! "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Ps. 111:10).
1 Cor. 8:1 says that "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." God hates arrogance and conceit. We overestimate our place in the body and our importance when we know a lot and don't relate to the less informed. We may think of them as a poor specimen because they aren't as clued in as we are and it may be a source of pride. We are not to reject knowledge per se, but it is not the goal, it is the means to an end, and not the end itself. We must always ask ourselves, "Why do I need to know this?" For instance, I don't learn Greek, because I can't justify it, even though it would be a source of pride and I could brag. I asked a friend of mine why he was taking this course and he really hadn't thought about it--it seemed to satisfy idle curiosity it seemed.
Hos. 4:6 warns the priest that has rejected knowledge (it comes with the territory). And "since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD" God will not answer their prayers and let Himself be found by them. For some brethren, it is more pleasing to God that they serve in a soup kitchen or charity than take a theology course to think they are "educated" and "informed" (i.e., a person should know his gift and how God uses him in the body). People erroneously think that "knowledge is power" and this only applies to the right kind used wisely and of spiritual knowledge, otherwise it puffs up (cf. 1 Cor. 8:1).
The man of God knows who God wants him to hearken to and submit to. There are many courses over the internet, for instance, and one must exercise caution and discretion. I like the prayer warrior who replied that he didn't have theology on prayer, he just prayed! Another teacher said, "I don't need another book on prayer, I just need to pray, and I won't find the time, I must make time! Most of us know enough, we just aren't applying enough. The proverb that "curiosity killed the cat" has some validity, in that one may get too enamored with the intellectual side of Christianity and lose its main focus, which is seeking God and doing His will which will glorify Him.
Some people are converted to the program and not to Christ--and this is another danger. If one is too intellectual and not practical, he may be in love with the idea of God, rather than God. God is not looking for some genius to discover His truths (I have been told that I'm the brains behind the program and I don't take this as a compliment, because God is looking for a man after His own heart--it is no accolade to be smart in some one's eyes, but to be able to be a spiritual or spiritual leader is another thing)--He's looking for an open mind, willing spirit, and needy heart to search the Scriptures ("Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life," according to Prov. 4:23; cf. Prov. 23:7) The question is whether a person's heart is in the right place, not how smart he is.
We want to know what God showed you in the Scriptures, not what the experts say: Jesus was contrasted to the Pharisees who quoted the authorities and never footnoted His sermons, but said, " You have heard it said, but I say unto you." "No man ever spoke like Jesus," cf. Matt. 7:29. To be called a scholar is more of an insult than a compliment because he doesn't have first-hand knowledge of the Lord, but only knows what he has read in books. "Of making many books, there is no end, and much study wearies the body" (Eccl. 12:12).
It is so refreshing to talk to a believer who doesn't read any book but the Bible, in contrast to him. We need believers with more than a second-hand knowledge of the Lord. There is knowledge we all can commend: the knowledge of the Lord, which must be contrasted with knowledge about the Lord. This comes from our daily walk in the Spirit. Experience, indeed, is the best teacher, and we should always need someone who has been there and done that or has gone through the school of hard knocks, as it were.
To sum up in a sentence: the gift of knowledge is a gift and we should try to be like them who have been filled with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, not emphasizing and elevating knowledge, but not despising or rejecting it either--it has a place--we are to love God with all our mind, too. Soli Deo Gloria!