"Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh." - Ecclesiastes 12.12b
"knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up." - 1 Corinthians 8.1b There is a great temptation for people who are on the search to know more, and more, and more. And that is to use their knowledge for purposes other than to increase faith and love for God and for people. Learning just to learn is okay, yes, but God warns us that it can puff us up. It can tend to make us conceited. "I know all this stuff and you don't." It's a slippery thing, isn't it? It doesn't feel like there is sin involved. Often, it just feels like: "this is a gift from the Lord. To know more so that I can fulfill God's calling in my life." Problem is when we use that knowledge and get into debating for the sake of debating, not to try to win someone over to the faith, not to help a person who is struggling with tearing down false beliefs of the Christian faith. To puff out our chests and show "I was right!" is not fulfilling the will of God. "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom." - Proverbs 11.2 This "puffing up" of which Scripture speaks is the very opposite of what the Lord desires. He wants us to have wisdom, not just knowledge. This requires humility. My "Life Verse" is actually two verses that I chose October 31, 2012. I believe it sums up the law and gospel nicely in the Old Testament: "Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me. And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” says the Lord. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." We absolutely must have humble spirits. For this is the the person on whom God will look. Going back to all of this knowledge one attains, we must learn how and when to apply that knowledge that was graciously bestowed upon the person. It requires discernment. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." - James 3.13,17 How can I speak with such "knowledge" and authority on this subject? Well, I was this person who had so much knowledge I could debate theology while half awake and half asleep. And I did it for years. Do I believe debating theology is wrong? No! Of course not. We would not have the ecumenical councils if that were true. One's heart really does need to be in the right place, though. Love God and love people - that's what Jesus said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12.30,31 So, if we are throwing our knowledge out there and feel "good" about it, patting ourselves on the backs, yeah, that's sin. And it will get worse if we do not keep that in check. We are to have self-discipline even in this area and live a repentant life if we struggle with it, going to God with our confession to Him that we've misused His gift of the ability to know more, to study more. Read books. Read blogs. Listen to podcasts. Watch documentaries. Learn historical facts. Do what you want to attain knowledge, but remember to use that knowledge for the greater good - to help people while your faith in God and your love for God is increasing. And not forsaking other duties in our lives. I felt prompted to write this post for a few reasons. One is due to a female friend who said of me about a year or two ago something about how she likes seeing how God has softened me and that I'm nicer or something like that. I remember reading her comment and it was like a dagger into my heart. I hadn't realized I was coming off not as nice as I thought I was. I was not that approachable. It took some time, but I searched my heart and repented. God did a work in me I was unable to do myself. Forgiven much, Tamara Jack Check out my 90 lb. Weight Loss Journey with Weight Watchers HERE! To contact me, email: [email protected] (You can contact me for prayer, too.) Where to find me: Facebook: AssisiRosaries Page HERE YouTube: AssisiRosaries Channel HERE YouTube: Tamara Wigs Out Channel HERE Instagram: AssisiRosaries HERE Instagram: TamaraWigsOut HERE
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