Gain Knowledge To Share With Others
Word-of-the-Day: ‘The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.’ (Proverbs 18:15); ‘(7) Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (8) To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit… (11) All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.’ (1 Corinthians 12:7-8, 11)
I typically send out informational e-mails out to my Life Group folks, and the two or three people that read them (which I assume is the average daily readership of the Word-of-the-Day) are treated to my various diatribes and opinions on whatever current event topic that I seem to focus on that given day. It can range from the political spectrum to health news, such as the number of various outbreaks of diseases throughout the world.
Admittedly, I am a purveyor of general knowledge, but am really not what I consider an expert on any particular field. As an Elder in my church, and the writer of this blog, I am probably more versed in Scriptural knowledge than other topics but I am not someone who could compare to many of the pastors who preach in our churches. I can make-do with the knowledge that I have, bolstered by the guidance of the Holy Spirit who I lean heavily on to teach the Word in my Life Group, and occasionally fill in for our Pastor when he travels away for a break, or is ill and can’t be at the pulpit on a given Sunday.
The knowledge I pursue is widespread, as I like to stay atop of current events or understand how certain things work. We often find people who unfortunately fall for the quick soundbite they hear thrown out by the mainstream media, a biased sensationalized tidbit given to tease the ear and stir an emotional response.
My goal when I put out the knowledge I acquire, is to bring a more complete outlook of the particular topic or event to allow folks to ‘know what I know’, and hopefully stir inside of them the desire to investigate further if it something of interest to them. This is especially true of this blog; I pray that those two or three that read it take the time to digest and investigate further the Word, not to take my word as ‘gospel’, but to look deeper into the Word and find what the Lord wants them to learn from the given verses.
We are told, in Proverbs 18:15, to acquire knowledge. We are not to be ignorant of our surroundings of the secular realm, and we should not be ignorant of God and His Spiritual realm. Jesus provided us, in the Gospels, breadcrumbs of things to look for that lead up to His return, for example; while not everything that makes the news point to His impending return, there are events that can be seen as a piece of the puzzle being revealed. Other events can be seen as cautionary tales, to warn others of possible events that can affect our physical and Spiritual lives.
This verse in Proverbs tells us we are to be discerning, and to seek out knowledge that is truthful and unbiased. The knowledge to pursue should not be to tear down or destroy, but to build up or restore in order to grow God’s Truth as an outreach to others. 1 Corinthians 12 is Paul’s instruction to be knowledgeable and use the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, along with the gifts of service that are also from the Spirit, to expand the Gospel of Christ outward to the world.
Paul used his secular knowledge of the culture of Athens and the gods of Greece, and using the shrine set up for the ‘unknown God’ as an example, gave the college of thinkers in Athens, the Areopagus, the Gospel message, in Acts 17:16-34. He gave them the Gospel of Jesus by providing that Jesus was this ‘unknown God’ that they were ignorant of, and that the triune God (the God of three parts, the Omnipotent Father, the Manifested Son, and the Indwelling Spirit) is this now-known God that supersedes all of their false gods. Paul used what secular knowledge of the Athenians he had to provide the knowledge of Truth in the Gospel to them.
To gain knowledge of secular events and items is not the same as secular pursuits. We live in a world that we cannot hide from, but we must for now live within its confines, and it is best we understand what is happening around us, why these things are happening, and how they can affect us. If anything, it bolsters our dependency on God, to provide us direction and wisdom in dealing with such items that confront us.
It is wiser to know of things beforehand so that we can prepare before they take effect. We know hurricanes can come, and while thankfully this year none have formed, it is better to be prepared in the knowledge they could come than to ignore the possibility and have them strike without any preparation at all. In a broader sense, to be aware of what is happening around us allows us to prepare physically, and more importantly Spiritually, when they come to affect us directly.
Knowledge is power, and shared knowledge is shared power. If there is knowledge you have, don’t be afraid to share it. Don’t spread misinformation that can confuse or erode the trust of your word, but speak the Truth and allow others to know what you know. Teach what you know, especially if you have a skill, to younger people who perhaps can use it to help their situation. Use knowledge to lift others up, not to tear down but to correct and lift up. If you know, you know – and let others know, as well.
