Not Just Knowledge – Sunday Thought For The Day

As a Christian father, one of the things that I strived to instill in our son is that knowledge is one thing, but there are more important things than that, i.e., knowledge alone.  It’s my opinion that the absence of imparting this factoid is one of the principle failings in not just our young people today, but by far and large the absence of same in past two generations as a whole.

While this shortcoming can be attributed in part to our educational system, which promotes what they consider to be knowledge, the greater responsibility of this failing I believe lies with parents and the church.

In 1 Kings 3:5 the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said: “… Ask what I shall give thee.” (KJV)  Solomon could have asked anything heart desired and it would have been granted unto him.  But, Solomon realized despite being king, he lacked what was needed to be a successful ruler.  Therefore, he asked the Lord for “an understanding heart.”  

This pleased the Lord: “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;”

Children, especially in the last two generations, have been taught to believe that knowledge is the most important thing and that with it, they are the informed.  However, knowledge without understanding and wisdom is merely the collection and regurgitation of information.  The majority of them fail to realize that without understanding and wisdom – they are blind per how to properly utilize and/or apply knowledge.

I believe Proverbs 4:5-9, is seminal to having knowledge: ⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. ⁶ Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. ⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. ⁸ Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. ⁹ She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. (KJV)

As parents, I firmly believe we must teach our children the importance of wisdom and understanding and that begins with the “fear of the Lord.”  I believe it is of paramount importance for the church to make this one of its primary objectives.  God’s word tells us in Proverbs 9:10-11: ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy one is understanding. ¹¹ For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. (KJV)

It is not only our children who will benefit from this instruction, but we ourselves as well.  Many in my age group had/have parents and grandparents that were not highly educated, but they were imbued with wisdom and understanding that enabled them to discern truth from fiction and lies.  Today, for the most part that ability is the exception, as opposed to the rule.