Knowledge

Knowledge is, on the whole, good. As Bill Hybels says, ‘the facts are our friends’. Education is good – reading, learning and discovering are all good activities. However, as Lord Byron wrote, ‘The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life.’ We need to see ‘knowledge’ in perspective. Our knowledge is very limited. The more we know, the more we realise how little we know. God is our creator and he alone knows everything.

There are also different types of knowledge, and they are not all equally valuable. In French there are two different words for ‘to know’. One (savoir) means to know a fact, the other (connaître) means to know a person. God is more interested in us knowing people than facts.

The most important knowledge of all is knowing God and being known by him. Even this is not the end though. It is never enough simply to have knowledge – you must also have love.

Although knowledge is a good thing, it has inherent dangers. It can lead to pride and a ‘know-it-all’ superiority. ‘Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up’ (8:1b).

Knowledge is not in itself a bad thing. It is like underwear – it is useful to have, but not necessary to show it off! Instead of trying to impress others with what we know, we should be trying to encourage and build them up in love.

Knowledge can so often lead to pride and arrogance: ‘Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know’ (v.2). What really matters in life is loving God and living a life of love: ‘But whoever loves God is known by God’ (v.3).

As Eugene Peterson translates, ‘We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know in answer to these kinds of questions – butsometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. We never really know enough until we recognise that God alone knows it all’ (vv.1b–3, MSG).

But knowing isn’t everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn’t that insensitive’ (v.7b, MSG)

Love is more important than knowledge. When God measures a person he puts the tape round the heart, not the head. It is no good just knowinglots about God; get to know him and let him fill you with love for him and for others. In other words, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.