Needed Knowledge

If there is one thing in the modern world that we value highly, it would be knowledge. Knowledge is what has brought our era to a place that has never been attained by mankind before. We obsess over so many forms of it in our world it is astounding. Never has man had more knowledge available at a moment's notice than now. It has given us more technical progress in 200 years than the preceding 5,000. More knowledge advancements happen in a single decade now than did in some millenniums previous. We have created much good for man, but also a greater ability to commit evil.

So how important is knowledge to us? Well, maybe I should ask instead; how much does it mean to you? Is knowledge a great factor in your life? Do you care what you know? Not just in the sciences or technology, but sports, vehicles, and popular culture. We judge people by their knowledge in whatever fields interest us.

Now some knowledge can be fairly fun, but useless. For example, I can name dozens of characters from comic books, give you a detailed description of their lives and histories, yet they never lived. Other people can do this with sports. I have friends who can name every single player on the roster of their favorite team, and also give me a detailed rundown of that teams history over the decades, often more than they would know about the nation's history. As entertaining as these may be, are they of any use?

Let's leave that thought for a moment and turn it toward something else. What about our Biblical and Theological knowledge? How much do we value it? Is it important to us? Do we care if we know the difference between Sanctification and Justification? Or Remonstrants and Reformers? How about between Preterists and Pre-Millenialists? Maybe you are a literalist and dispensationalist? Do you know? Do you care?

Knowledge is important. If I didn't believe that I would make a poor educator. However, knowledge does not deserve our worship. We can know much or little about God. The important part is what we do with our knowledge. Knowledge of the fact does not save our souls.

But knowledge is important once we wish to be leaders spiritually. I believe that every husband aught to be the spiritual leader of his home. As leaders, we need to understand as much as we can so we may lead in the right direction. Theological study is an important part of that quest. We need to know what we believe so we may lead properly.

Take a look at these two pictures and tell me which is a picture of the ocean.

There is no question that the first picture is the prettier of the two. It is the one we like to look at, we enjoy the beauty of the ocean. But the second one is important in its own right. A painter would study the first image; a captain, the second. Both would do so for good reason. Which of them would you say knows the ocean better?

The painter would be well acquainted with the ocean's beauty and peace. The captain would be familiar with the direction of the underlying tides and importance of being right in even the smallest areas of knowledge. Both know the ocean well, but only one is qualified to lead us into it. The painter enjoys the ocean as well as the captain, but the captain is the one we would chose to lead us from Alaska to Australia.

In a similar way, we can be painters or captains. We can enjoy the beauty and peace of God, and fellowship with Him. It is a wonderful experience. But as leaders, we must do as a captain does. We must buckle down and study the parts that may not be as instantly rewarding. We must see that a small change off the coast in Alaska will mean we miss Australia entirely if we do not correct it. We see that even though the painter does indeed know the ocean, the captain must know the implications of mistakes and how to correct them.

So is it important for us all to be captains? I think not. We need the painters in this world. But if you intend to lead people, make sure you study your maps. We cannot lead based on the pretty pictures we paint, but by studying the accurate knowledge of what is, not what could be.

Conclusion

So am I saying that we can only serve God if we have a Theological Degree? No, God does not need our knowledge. He has it all. When we increase in knowledge it is only that we are coming closer to God's truth, not that God was now somehow enlightened. That being said, we need to watch that we follow that knowledge. God is indeed all-knowing; we are not. We can be of more use to Him as ignorant, but obedient servants than as arrogant, self-worshiping rogues. We need knowledge only as far as it is a help to us, it should never replace God Himself.