PRINCIPLE # 3
One of the most often
overlooked aspects of leadership and management is the need for pursuit of
Knowledge. Great leaders are never satisfied with traditional practice, static
thinking, conventional wisdom, or common performance. In fact, the best leaders
are simply uncomfortable with anything that embraces the status
quo. Leadership is pursuit – pursuit of excellence, of elegance, of
truth, of what’s next, of what if, of change, of value, of results, of
relationships, of service, of knowledge, and of something bigger than themselves.
Good leaders understand it’s not just enough to pursue, but pursuit must be
intentional, focused, consistent, aggressive, and unyielding. You must pursue
the right things, for the right reasons, and at the right times.
Today, the average
manager is bombarded with new management theories promising instant success.
Many experts present themselves as the supplier of knowledge and are handsomely
rewarded for their contribution. But does any of this make wisdom? Management
history has shown that more often than not is the relentless pursuit of
knowledge, sometimes spanning hundreds or even thousands of years that reaps
the most fruitful rewards. Most all
advancements in management of the enterprise are evolutionary in nature. Except
for few individuals who may or may not be responsible for significant
advancement in human knowledge, all advancement in the knowledge base is
derivative. Simply put, this discipline we call management has evolved over
several thousand years. The words of hundreds of academics and practitioners
both past and present support the fact that modern management techniques are
built on the experiences of the past. “Leaders
are idea brokers that enable the exchange of ideas to benefit their
organization” This exchange of
ideas is part of meaning and measurement, the ability to procure new knowledge
and then integrate that into the framework of the organization.
organizations that achieve and sustain excellence are ALWAYS
led by visionary leaders who embrace change; who encourage innovation and risk
taking; who create a shared vision and then are unrelenting in their constancy
of purpose toward that vision; who value talent and focus on their workforce’s
and their own continued development; who use knowledge to make decisions and
who consider their people in every important decision to be made; who are
defined by character, integrity, and ethics; who create an environment that
fosters collaboration, involvement, and empowerment, In short, performance
excellence requires leaders who are simply make every effort to
procure new knowledge for excellence.
Aristotle said “All men
by nature desire knowledge.” Socrates acknowledged that “The only good is
knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.” Martin Luther King affirmed “Science
investigates, religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power; religion
gives man wisdom which is control.”
Man has the ability to
acquire knowledge, preserve it and pass it on to the coming generations. This
has given him the power to control the forces of nature and use them for his
benefit. Knowledge directs our actions and enables us to find the difference
between right and wrong, good and bad. It helps us overcome our weakness and
faults and face dangers and difficulties with courage and confidence. It gives
man mental, moral and spiritual advancement. Besides this, it is through
knowledge that man has gained mastery over nature.
Knowledge is power.
Knowledge is the ultimate weapon and the ultimate defense. Since the dawn of civilization,
the powerful have restricted the Knowledge available to common folk, and that is precisely how they
maintain their power. Knowledge plays an important role in all spheres of human
life and activity. It is a powerful factor which helps man to attain success,
power and position in life. There is no doubt that physical strength and money
are instruments of power. But the power of knowledge is still greater. Man is
physically weaker than many animals. He cannot see as for as an eagle; he
cannot run as fast a panther his sense of smell is weaker than of dog. He
cannot carry heavy loads as some beasts of burden do. He cannot fight lions and
tiger with his bare hands. Yet he has managed to become the most powerful
creature on the earth. His power comes from knowledge not from physical
strength.
There was a day when
man was in an uncivilized stage. He lived in caves and dens. He was afraid of
wild animals. Gradually civilization came to human society and man acquired
knowledge. With its attainment he became civilized. Now knowledge has made him
ruler over nature. He has used the force of nature to his needs. Nothing
remains unknown to him. He has become a great scientist, skilful artist, a
mighty creator of things and a noble path finder of life. Advancement of
civilization and culture would be impossible without knowledge. Knowledge plays
an important role in the progress of art, literature, science, philosophy and
religion. So knowledge is power. It has led man for progress. Mighty minds with
power of knowledge can rule the minds of millions.
On the other hand it is necessary for mankind
to use the knowledge and power wisely; if we use our knowledge wisely we can
create a better and safer world than the world today. Knowledge and power alone
cannot bring happiness to mankind. We have not used our knowledge and power for
benefits of entire mankind. Those persons and nations who happened to possess
knowledge and power in the past used it for creating personal and national
empires by conquering more lands and enslaving more people.
This is true; the
man who knows has an advantage over the man who does not know. In this way the
educated classes have always been able to rule over the ignorant. During the
middle Ages in Europe, the only educated men were the priests. Great barons,
brave knights, kings and ruling princes very often could not even read and
write Kings had to appoint priests as their ministers. Unless the king was a
man of very strong character, the power, supposedly his, was in the hands of
learned and clever priests. The soldier, the man of the sword, thought he was
the master; but he was really in the hands of the priest, the man of the pen.
The pen was mightier than the sword.
It was the same in
ancient India. The learned Brahmins were for ages the real rulers of India.
They dominated the lower, ignorant castes; and their knowledge enabled them to
manage the Rajas and Maharajas. In the same way, and for the same reason,
civilized nations can dominate ignorant savage races. A handful of learned men
can control thousands of illiterate natives. It is their superior knowledge,
and the weapons, organization and character which that knowledge has given them
that give the cultured man power over these people who are physically, but not
intellectually, their equals. In both east and west today, education is so widespread
that even the working classes are educated people. As they have advanced in
knowledge, the common people have advanced in power. So in the great
democracies the people now rule themselves, and are no longer under the
domination of a particular group.
However our knowledge has not enabled us to completely
banish crime, corruption, war, violence, discrimination, poverty, illiteracy
and evil in the society that prevails and destroyed man from very beginning. In
fact we have used immense knowledge acquired in the past two or three centuries
to make war and violence more and more horrible. The last century has seen man
reaching the moon and exploring the deep space, had also seen two world wars in
which millions of people were killed. These wars were started by nations who
meet most advanced nations in the field of knowledge and power.
Knowledge is no doubt a power it has changed the
surface of earth it has brought countless happiness for man but is must be used
in the right direction and for the welfare of whole humanity. The knowledge
that creates the articles for destruction of man is not knowledge but a curse.
But knowledge which opens the gates for human happiness is in fact knowledge
which should be acquired. There are certain theories and dogmas which have diverted
man and women from the pursuit of true knowledge and make them content with
their ignorance and stupidity. All
the ills of humanity arise from ignorance. With true knowledge we can at least
over come ignorance. The
key to knowledge is a vigilant and disciplined mind. Knowledge has to be
learned.
In the Bible God says
“My
people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected
knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the
law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” (Hosea 4:6)
“For
wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with
her.” (Proverbs 8:11)
“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding
prospers.” (Proverbs 19:8)
“A wise man has great power, and a man of
knowledge increases strength. For waging war you need guidance, and for victory
many advisers.” (Proverbs 24:5-6)
Scripture often uses
the words knowledge, understanding, and wisdom interchangeably, but
occasionally they are spoken of as separate and distinct. Thus, it may be
useful to attempt to define the differences of meaning. You see if God thought all three of these
were the same thing He wouldn’t have included each of them in these verses as
different and separate qualities. What we can clearly see is an
interrelated set of dependencies called knowledge, understanding and
wisdom. Each of these three elements are mentioned separately and yet
joined together in a common set of themes. Instead of going through these
verses individually, let’s take each word and analyze what they are and see
what God says to us. “By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by
understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were
divided. (Prov 3:19-20)
1.
Knowledge
So let’s start with Knowledge! Knowledge is
the facts, Information, memory, academic insight, those
with knowledge are able to collect, remember, and access information.
They "know" the Scriptures. God's word is literally "in
them". They are scholars. Knowledge is the accumulation and
familiarization with information and facts…and facts are statements of truth.
But, it is possible to have knowledge and lack understanding and wisdom;
to have the facts, but have no clue as to the meaning or what to do next.
Knowledge is the full
utilization of information and data, coupled with the potential of people's
skills, competencies, ideas, intuitions, commitments and motivations. Knowledge is needed because there are problems as a
result of the fall of mankind. Knowledge that is true allows problems to be
solved and avoided. If a car breaks down, mechanical knowledge is useful,
otherwise it is unnecessary. It is the same with all of life's problems. God
gives us knowledge to help "fix" broken people, protect ourselves
from the difficulties of life, and allow love to express itself in good works.
Prov 24:3-4 (NIV) By wisdom a
house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge
its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
What
is Knowledge Management?
Over the past decade,
the core development in strategy has been the recognition of the importance of
Learning and Learning Organization concepts. In fact, it is increasingly
recognized by organizations, individuals - and even Nation -that:
"Effective learning is the only sustainable competitive advantage".
This focus on Learning
has been extended into a whole new industry called 'Knowledge Management'.
Obviously, if you are concerned with learning, it is natural to ask the
question: What are we learning? And perhaps even more importantly: What do we
need to learn? This development has coincided with the widespread use of
computers which created substantial new challenges from what is known as the
'information explosion'.
Knowledge management is
an audit of "intellectual assets" that highlights unique sources,
critical functions and potential bottlenecks which hinder knowledge flows to
the point of use. It protects intellectual assets from decay, seeks
opportunities to enhance decisions, services and products through adding
intelligence, increasing value and providing flexibility. Knowledge Management
refers to a multi-disciplined approach to achieving organizational objectives
by making the best use of knowledge, Knowledge Management is the discipline of
enabling individuals, teams and entire organizations to collectively and systematically
create, share and apply knowledge, to better achieve their objectives"
Knowledge Management is
the systematic management of knowledge for the purpose of creating and
civilizing value, morals and standards
in life and meeting tactical & strategic requirements; it consists of the
initiatives, processes, strategies, and systems that sustain and enhance the
purpose, meaning, accomplishment, innovation, development, assessment, sharing,
refinement, and creation of comprehension and wisdom.
Knowledge
is the basis for the other two, understanding and wisdom. Without
knowledge you cannot have or obtain to the other two. So if we used an
analogy of a ladder, knowledge would represent the first rung on the ladder. So
what is knowledge? In the most basic form you could say that knowledge is
the accumulation and familiarization of facts. A fact represents a
statement of truth. A fact is a
true event, a true person, a true concept, a true law. For example, when you
learned the multiplication table in grade school as a child you accumulated
mathematical facts of numbers. One times One is One. One times Two
is Two. Two times Two is Four. These are all mathematical facts or
truths. If you memorized them, you gained knowledge of these mathematical
truths. At the same time you learned the fact that 2 x 3 = 6, you also
gained implied knowledge of the mathematical concept of multiplication.
In the same manner when you read the Bible verse by verse and chapter
by chapter you begin to accumulate knowledge, facts such as people, places,
things, concepts, laws and such. By gaining the knowledge of facts
you are experiencing the accumulated process of learning. So knowledge is
the accumulation of both explicit and implicit facts. However, knowledge
is also much deeper and has many other implied Biblical meanings. In the
book of Hosea the 4th chapter and the 6th verse says:” My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge:.” God
wants you to “know” Him spiritually. He wants you to “know” His
word. If you know God’s word you know God. So reading and studying
the Bible ought to be a time of spiritual intimacy between you and God.
Knowing this, it should change a lot of your attitudes toward reading the
Bible. In this verse in Hosea it also shows us a concept that is called
“forget”. To “forget” something means that you once knew it, but now you
have let it slip. To forget something means it has become unimportant to
you. This is a very important part of knowledge and knowing something to
keep and maintain a high and important place in your mind and in your
spirit. If it was important enough to learn, it is important enough to
hold on to.
2.
Understanding
UNDERSTANDING is the process of working with the information or facts
(reading, rereading, meditating, discussing, etc.). As we do this we
begin to see meaning and principles emerge. Understanding is the ability to lift the meaning out of the
facts, or comprehension of Principles,
Reason. Those with understanding are able to abstract the meaning out
of information. They "see through" the facts to the dynamics of what,
how, and why. They are teachers. Understanding is a lens which brings the facts
into crisp focus. Understanding produces "rules of thumb" or
principles.
Pro 4:7 says “Wisdom is the
principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get
understanding.”
This
verse starts by stating that wisdom is the highest rung on the ladder, the
principal thing that we are all hoping to gain from studying God’s Word is said
to be wisdom. But, it then declares with all your getting makes sure that
you also understand. Generally speaking, “understanding” is the correct
organization and ordering of associated facts and truths. What we can see
in this verse is the reference to all three key subjects. God is telling
us all to “Get Something” and that something is His knowledge. God still
tells us that Wisdom is the ultimate goal of all of our getting, however to get
to wisdom, we first need to achieve understanding by first gaining accumulating
facts.
When God’s Word
commands us to grow in "knowledge", the Greek word is "epignosis",
or a "full knowledge". Knowledge of God’s Word leads us to an
"understanding", which is the Greek word "sunesis", which
literally means "a flowing together of two rivers".
"Sunesis" is a picture of two of our lists of facts merging together
and our understanding becoming deeper and wider. In 2 Tim 2:7, Paul says “Think
over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (sunesis)".
Knowledge and understanding leads us to "wisdom". The English word
"wisdom" is a translation of the Greek word "sophia",
meaning the application of knowledge and understanding. God’s Word does not
tell us to pray for knowledge, understanding, or even faith, but in James 1:5
we find “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously
to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.".
3.
Wisdom
"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know
is not to be wise. Many people know a great deal, and are all the greater fools
for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to
use knowledge is to have wisdom."
(Charles H. Spurgeon)
(Charles H. Spurgeon)
“Wisdom is the power that enables us to use our
knowledge for the benefit of ourselves and others.”
(Thomas J. Watson)
(Thomas J. Watson)
“The more knowledge we have the more wisdom we need
to ensure that it is used well.”
(Anon)
(Anon)
“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into
practice.”
(Anton Chekhov (1860-1904))
(Anton Chekhov (1860-1904))
Wisdom tells us what to
do next, how to apply what we have learned. So Wisdom is applied knowledge,
Application, Action. Those with wisdom know which principle to
apply now. Those with wisdom know what to do next; they know which
way to go. They do the right thing. In contrast, there are many who have great
knowledge and understanding, but consistently do the wrong thing. Wisdom, in
this sense, is the goal, and knowledge and understanding only have eternal
value as they result in wisdom, or what we end up doing. Knowledge and understanding only
have eternal value as they result in wisdom –
wisdom that shapes our decisions and actions in conformity with God’s plan.
In essence being wise involves the ability to apply wisdom effectively in
practice.
"Our values are
revealed by what we do, not by what we say." (Anon) "It is not
enough to know what is good; you must be able to do it." (George
Bernard Shaw)
As we
learned earlier it is the principal thing that we are trying to gain from
studying the Bible. What exactly is wisdom? I would say wisdom in
it’s simplest terms is the practical application of correct knowledge and
understanding. Knowing what to do, when to do it and with who to do it,
that is the revealed ability to make wise choices. Wisdom certainly
involves other aspects and there are men of God who teach very in depth on the
subject of wisdom so I will not venture to repeat what they can teach you more
efficiently and effectively. But, by correctly knowing God’s word
and understanding it, God will give you the wisdom to make right choices in
your life. Wisdom is a gift from God and it comes from knowing God
personally. In James 1:5,
God says if any man lacks wisdom; let him ask of God who gives to every man
liberally.
This verse teaches us that not every man has
wisdom but then informs us where true wisdom can come from if we
desire to have it. So making the right choices in life is possible with
God as your source and your guide. By His Spirit, God guides His people to make
wise choices. However, making wise choices start by knowing God’s Word
first. By knowing God’s Word, it builds your character, and guides your
moral convictions. The wisdom of God allows you to put together good
choices in life and allows you to be a better and a more successful human
being.
By Wisdom A House
Is Built
The foundation of a
house is wisdom. Christ is the Cornerstone and the embodiment of wisdom. Jesus
Christ has become for us wisdom from God: "It is because of Him that
you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our
righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). Things in this
life do not make sense until we find God and receive an understanding of His
ways. The first thing we must do is to build on a foundation of wisdom.
What is wisdom? Biblical wisdom is the ability to use the best means at
the best time to accomplish the best ends. The only way to do this is to give
our lives to Jesus Christ and then follow Him completely. Since God
created us, He certainly knows what we need to do, in order to live in the
world He created. God is the manufacturer who gave us the Bible as an
instruction book. True spiritual wisdom, knowledge and understanding
originated in the heart of God and can only be given by Him. "If any of
you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him" (Jas. 1:5)
"By wisdom the
Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by
understanding He set the heavens in
place; by His knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the
dew" (Prov.
3:19-20).
The greatest
encouragement we can all find is in the foundational truth that God Himself is
the Builder of all things (Hebrews 3:4). In fact, "unless the Lord
builds the house, they labor in vain who build it"(Psalm 127:1) Godly
wisdom is "knowing and possessing the heart of God." This wisdom is
the governing and guiding principle which directs our lives. Through knowing
God's heart and being established in intimacy with Him, we continually receive
the knowledge and ability to complete every assignment He gives. Proverbs 11:2
tells us, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility
comes wisdom." So, if "by wisdom a house is
built" we must have humility that is demonstrated by our willingness
to completely surrender to the Master Builder!
There is nothing in
this world too difficult for God. There is no crisis that man cannot overcome
by means of the supernatural wisdom of God. Therefore it is critical that we
understand that in re claiming and rebuilding our life and families, we must go
to God for help.
The wise man Solomon describes three
fundamentals not only for building a house, but also a home. We find three
words, in reverse order, in the Bible “By wisdom a house is built, and
through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are
filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”(Proverbs 24:3&4,)
The book of James is
the book of wisdom in the New Testament, and the book of Proverbs is the book
of application in the Old Testament, and both are urging us to apply God’s Word
to our lives.
In Colossians 1:9-11,
Paul prays for the Church at Colossia, that they "might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding". Christian
growth requires knowledge of God’s Word. A "little knowledge" leads
us to a "full knowledge", which leads us to
"understanding", and the final result is "wisdom".
Knowledge and understanding alone should not be the goal of our life. Applying
God’s Word to our life is what is important. James even says that faith without
the resultant works is a dead (unproductive) faith! (Jas 2:17)
There is no greater
wealth like knowledge and no severe poverty like ignorance because
Knowledge is truth, light, love and vision .The higher our knowledge increases,
the greater our ignorance unfolds. No man's knowledge can go beyond his
experience. You are your greatest investment. The more you store in that mind
of yours, the more you enrich your experience, the more people you meet, the
more books you read, and the more places you visit, the greater is that
investment in all that you are. An investment in knowledge pays the best
interest. When you know better you do better.
To see an example of
how Jesus applied these three elements during His ministry on the earth, we can
look at Jesus teaching his disciples reading the story of the parable of
the sower in mark 4:1. Jesus goes through the parable in a public setting
giving to everyone the same basic knowledgeable facts, but in private he
tells the 12 the meaning of all of the symbolic objects in the parable (Mk
4:10). The soil was the heart of man, the seeds were the Words of God,
the bird of the air was Satan, etc. By explaining the parable to them he
correctly put together the associated truths and facts so that they could have
a clear understanding of how the Kingdom of God operates. We can begin to
see why understanding is so critical, without understanding all you have is a
mere information. This was an example of the Jewish leadership of
Jesus’ day. These men knew a lot of facts written in their law, but
understood practically none of them. Too many so called Christian are
just people with some knowledge of some random facts. They do not understand
how they fit together, or how they work, or why they are in the Bible, how they
relate to God, how they relate to them, why they are important to know?
so Start by learning the facts and then grow to understand what each of
them mean and how they relate together. Continue to grow and understand
how they apply to you specifically. Only by understanding who you are in
Christ, why Jesus died on the cross, who Jesus was, and all of the other
important subjects in the Bible will you ever be able to achieve to know a
level of the wisdom of God. So let’s move on up the ladder.
2 Peter 1:3-4 – As His divine power has given
to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of
Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly
great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
God has already
provided all that we need for life and godliness, all things we need for our
spiritual lives as well as our natural, earthly lives. If we want to live
in more abundant life, we will need to increase our knowledge. We don’t pray
for God to do for us what He has already done; we pray for wisdom and
understanding so that we may know it and live in it. But we do more than pray
for understanding. It is utmost importance that we study God’s Word for
ourselves in order to gain knowledge of what God has provided. What is in your
heart will control your life. You determine the degree of the knowledge of God
in your life. It is up to you! It is up to you not God how far you
go in life, how much you grow in the knowledge of God, how much wisdom you gain
and how much you prosper. He has given us all His word. John 8:31-32 – “If you
continue in my Word, then you are truly disciples of mine, and you will know
the truth and the truth will make you free.”
It doesn’t say that the truth will set you free. It is only truth
that you know that will make your free. Truth is here whether you know it
or not. Redemption is available whether you know it or not, but you will
only experience it to the degree you know it.
“The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and
discipline”(Proverbs 1:7NIV)
Our age is eager in its pursuit of knowledge.
It professes to be a truth-loving, and a truth-seeking information age. It is
quite awake to science, and thoroughly in love with its marvels and mysteries.
So the only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance .Knowledge is,
indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above
another. Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound
wisdom, consists in two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves . . . For
quite clearly, the mighty gifts with which we are endowed are hardly from
ourselves; indeed our very being is nothing but subsistence in the one God . .
. Accordingly, the knowledge of ourselves not only arouses us to seek God, but
also as it were, leads us by the hand to him. The most obvious source of godly
wisdom is manifested in creation and fully revealed in His Holy word. Godly
wisdom is the capacity to see things from the Lord’s viewpoint and respond
according to His standard and scriptural principles. Knowledge confers you a
good job and assures a secured future. The truth is: the more knowledge we
have, the more advanced we become. The power of Knowledge is even more vital
for students. The amount of knowledge a student commands strongly determines
his or her academics, which decides how bright and successful his or her future
will be. But how can an individual or a student gain this power of knowledge.
Yes, hard work, dedication and commitment is the answer but without the right
kind of divine intervention, these alone can't steer you towards attaining the
power of knowledge.
From a study of God’s Word, we see that when Israel rejected
the knowledge of God, God rejected them (Hosea 4:1, 6). Christianity is a
religion of instruction. Where there is no solid biblical instruction, the
Christian system can neither commence nor continue. Hosea 4: 6 says “ my people are destroyed
from lack of knowledge.“Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject
you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your
God, I also will ignore your children.” The holy Bible speaks out another
word for, "knowledge" the words, "truth" and
"love." How truth and love relate to each other? Apostle Paul
said the goal of education is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good
conscience and a sincere faith 1Timothy 1:5.
Education is not the goal, love is. Education is the means. It is subordinate.
Truth serves love. Education serves relationships - mainly the relationship
between us and God, but also between believers and believers, and between us
and nonbelievers. The "purpose" of all our education is love. Bible
says
…….”We know that “We
all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” 1
Corinthians 8:1
Your brilliance is
worthless if you’re not building up your brother—and even worse if you’re
destroying him with your knowledge. Knowledge is essential, but it’s not
sufficient. It takes knowledge for me to write this. We need to think. We must
know the truth. But knowledge alone is not sufficient for the successful life.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:2 “If I have prophetic powers, and
understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” Think hard. But know
that it’s not enough. Paul says even if he had all knowledge but didn’t love,
he would amount to nothing. In other words, you can be brilliant and worthless.
Your brilliance is worthless if you’re not building up your brother—and
even worse if you’re destroying him with your knowledge. So when you look at
people, do you love them? Do you think, Let me use my knowledge to build
this person up?
“And let
us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one
another, studying how we may stir up to love and helpful deeds and noble
activities, " (Hebrews 10:24). The aim of our "considering one
another" is that we stir up love. The truth of doctrine and truth of
people-watching unite to aim at love. Love aims at truth."Love
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth" (1
Corinthians 13:6). Love is glad when truth is spoken. Therefore love aims at
truth. It supports truth.
The
Source Of True Knowledge
Jam
1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously
to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Prov 2:6,9-11 (NIV) For the Lord
gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.... Then you
will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path. For wisdom
will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion
will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Mat 11:25 (NIV) At that time
Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have
hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and revealed them to little
children."
Jam 1:17 (NAS) Every good thing
bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.
The foundation, the
origin, the commencement of knowledge begin with the fear of the Lord -
Reverence for God; respect for his law, his will, his government, himself; the
fear of offending him, which will lead us to do right. This fear is not that of
a slave; it is not mere dread; it is not terror. It is consistent with love,
and springs from it. It is consistent with calmness of mind, and promotes it.
It does not produce terror, but rather delivers from it, and preserves the mind
from alarms. So Bible says “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that
cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with
reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews
12:28-29NIV) The fear of the Lord does not make us timid or weak. The fear of
the Lord actually gives us strength with reverence and awe. When we fear the
Lord, we don’t have to fear anything else. The fear of the Lord is a remedy for
all other ungodly and unhealthy forms of fear. It’s like the saying “A man who is intimate with God will
never be intimidated by man.”
The highest wisdom -
the loftiest endowment of man - is that he "May" “Fear” know and
honor God. Wisdom is the ability to discern what is edifying from what is
harmful, what is safe from what is dangerous. Wisdom is about a right
understanding and a right application of the way things really are. The
fundamental fact about the way things really are is that God exists and is
engaged with the creation. The fear of the Lord is to be God-conscious at
all times.
Knowledge plays an
important role in all spheres of human life and activity. It is a powerful
factor which helps man to attain success, power and position in
life. Knowledge directs his actions and enables him to find the difference
between right and wrong, good and bad. It helps him overcome his weakness and
faults and face dangers and difficulties with courage and confidence. It gives
him mental, moral and spiritual advancement. Besides this, it is through
knowledge that man has gained mastery over nature. Knowledge plays an important
role in the progress of art, literature, science, philosophy and religion. So
knowledge is power. It has led man for progress.
It is a rich and a unique possession that cannot be stolen or plundered. The
growth, success and future survival of mankind depends upon knowledge of God. Ephesians
5:15-18 reads, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as
wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not
get drunk on wife, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the
Spirit.”
The knowledge of God is
of great importance to our personal and private happiness. “The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of knowledge” Here properly the book begins, and this is
the first of the proverbs, and an excellent one. By "the fear of the
Lord" is not meant a servile fear, a fear of punishment, of hell, wrath,
and damnation, which is the effect of the first work of the law upon the
conscience; but a Godly fear, and supposes knowledge of God as a father, of his
love and grace in Christ, particularly of his forgiving love, from whence it
arises, Psalm 130:4 --- it is a holy, humble, a reverential affection and
devotion to God; it includes the whole of religious worship, both internal and
external; all that is contained in the first table of the law, and the manner
of performing it, and principle of acting: this is the first of all sciences to
be learned, and it is the principal one; it is the basis and foundation of all
the rest, on which they depend; and it is the head, the fountain, the root an
source, from where they spring; and unless a man knows God, knows God in
Christ, and worships him in his fear, in spirit and in truth, according to his
revealed will, he knows nothing as he ought to know; and all his knowledge will
be of no avail and profit to him; this is the first and chief thing in
spiritual and scriptural knowledge, and without which all natural knowledge
will signify nothing;
