Knowledge: September 22, 2010

Today's Word for Wednesday September 22, 2010

KNOWLEDGE

DEFINITION

The acquaintance with facts, truths or principles; the fact or state of knowing; the sum of what is known.

SCRIPTURE

"Wise people store up knowledge." Proverbs 10:14

"It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge." Proverbs 19:2

"But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who possess it." Ecclesiastics 7:12

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Knowledge and wisdom is not the same thing. We have a lot of knowledge in this world, but real wisdom is scarce. Knowledge is knowing the truth, the facts and the principles. Wisdom is discernment and understanding in the use of our knowledge. Both wisdom and knowledge come only to those who seek it.

In the book of Proverbs chapter two and verses three to five it reads: "If you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD." God is the source of knowledge and understanding.

It is interesting to note that when God planted a garden in Eden he included a tree of the knowledge of good and evil [Geneses 2:9]. From the beginning of time, God was the source of knowledge. Before they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve knew only good. Satan told Eve that if she ate the fruit from the tree, her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. Adam and Eve had the knowledge of good and received the knowledge of evil by doing evil and they suffered the disastrous consequences. The lesson for us is to make sure we pursue the right kind of knowledge.

Knowledge comes to us in various ways. We learn from schooling, reading books, and observing life experiences. Education equips us and helps us gain earthly knowledge. School text-books must continually be changed and updated as more knowledge is obtained. It is more important for us to depend on the knowledge and wisdom that comes from God, through His Word, because it is based on truth and does not change.

We read in the Old Testament about Daniel. After Daniel was taken captive to Babylonia, he was chosen to be taught the Babylonian culture. We read in Daniel 1:17 that God gave him knowledge and understanding in all kinds of literature and wisdom. When the King had a dream and wanted it interpreted, Daniel was chosen to tell the King the meaning. Daniel realized that all of the education that he had been given was not sufficient to respond properly. So Daniel turned to God in prayer and asked God to reveal the meaning of the dream to him. Daniel knew that God was the true source of all knowledge. As a result of his faith, God revealed to Daniel the meaning of the dream.

We can learn from this illustration from the life of Daniel to place our trust in the knowledge and wisdom, which comes from God, and to place our lives into His hands each day. Knowledge without values is like a canoe without oars. In your pursuit of knowledge make sure you look to God for His direction and make sure you develop Biblical values in your understanding.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in 1 John 4:10.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

PRAYER

Help me dear Lord to pursue knowledge that will not only honor You but that You may use through me to further Your kingdom. Help me to learn Your Word, and as the scripture says, to hide it in my heart so I may not sin against You. Help me to follow Your words to Your disciples when You washed their feet saying: "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."