Central Truth

If we know God, rather than knowing about God, we are able to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit in what we say and how we say it. We can pass on knowledge with the love that builds up others. Spouting knowledge devoid of God’s love exalts only ourselves.

Reflections

I love the challenge of learning. It was a “winning” moment when I was offered my choice of seminary PhD programs. But instead of staying in the academic environment I enjoyed, I decided to accept a challenging missionary assignment. Soon I was asking God to give me plain words instead of my intellectualized vocabulary to communicate His truth to the gang kids, mentally impaired, and non-English-speaking immigrants who peopled my new ministry path.

Our desire for knowledge goes back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve ate of the “tree of knowledge” so they would know the difference between good and evil and wouldn’t have to rely on God any more (Gen 3: 5-7). We still have that desire to be our own gods, and make our own decisions based on our own knowledge.

Knowledge in itself isn’t wrong; it’s how we handle it that can cause problems. Sharing knowledge with love can start a ripple effect that enriches others and then others beyond. But we aren’t to consider ourselves superior because we know more than others. We’re to pass on what we know with love so that God may be honored.

In addition, passing on our spiritual knowledge is essential to our own Christian maturing. It’s like the Jordan River flowing through the Sea of Galilee and into the Dead Sea. The Galilee supports life because it has an outlet, but the Dead Sea has no outlet and is so toxic that even bacteria will not grow in it. We might receive all the spiritual input in the world, but if we keep it to ourselves, we are more like a Dead Sea than a life-giving Sea of Galilee.

I now have many other “winning” moments in memory: convicts turning their lives over to the Lord; gang members literally risking death to accept Jesus; a materialistic CEO committing to sacrificial generosity. These God-glorifying moments far outweigh that ego-plumping moment of academic approval. And none of them would have happened if God had not given me His love and His words instead of my own.

Discussion Questions

1. What have you learned about faith that has excited you?

2. Has the Lord given you spiritual insights that have enabled you to mature in your Christian walk? If you shared that knowledge with others, was it helpful to them as well?

3. How do you maintain love for others as you pass on knowledge to them?