We
Don't Know What We Think We Know
(Minute Meditation - December 2004)
There
is an interesting quiz going around that asks questions
that seem to have obvious answers. How long did the Hundred Years War
last? Which country makes Panama hats? In which month do Russians celebrate
the October Revolution? What is the color of the black box in a commercial
airplane?
The right answers are 116 years, Ecuador, November and orange.
There are several lessons we can learn from this quiz. For instance, the
obvious or generally held opinion may not be correct. In matters of belief
we need to be especially careful. Paul tells us, “If anyone
thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.”
For example, almost everyone in the world believes that good people go
to heaven at death, and most people who call themselves Christians believe
that Jesus is God and that the devil is a supernatural being that entices
us to sin.
Those who take the time to study the scriptures soon realize that what
they thought were the obvious answers are all wrong. To us, it really
is not important who makes Panama hats, but it is a matter of life and
death to know the true teachings of Scripture. Paul tells us, “The
holy scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation.”
Also, notice that Paul was writing to believers when he said that if we
think we know anything, we do not know as we ought to know. We need to
continually study God’s word, to search the scriptures daily like
those in Berea who were checking to see if Paul was preaching truth. We
need to try to make sure that we do know as much as possible about what
we ought to know. We should never stop learning.
The next step is to think about what we are going to do with all this
knowledge we are learning. Paul did everything in his power to share what
he knew with those he met and those to whom he wrote. We must learn as
much as we can, but then we need to share this life-saving knowledge.
We have a real obligation to try to help everyone learn what the Bible
says about salvation even though some think they have the answers. All
those who do not believe the gospel are without Christ, without God, aliens
and strangers having no hope. They are in a sad state, and it is our duty
and privilege to try to help them learn the right answers to the really
important facts of life.
Knowledge is power, but only if it is applied. To know and then not to
use what we know to help others to learn the truth or to help others who
know the truth to live the truth is like hiding our candle under a basket—and
Jesus told us not to do that.
Paul wrote to those in Rome, people that he had never met, and told them,
“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual
gift.” Paul was eager to share his understanding of the scriptures
with others, and we likewise should become so excited about the spiritual
insights that we are gaining from our studies in the word that we cannot
help but want to share them with anyone who will listen.
We may not be able to impart the gifts of the spirit as Paul could, but
we can impart the spiritual knowledge that God helps us to acquire through
Bible study. To the same brethren and sisters in Corinth that Paul said
did not know what they ought to know, he said, “Since you are
eager for manifestations of the spirit, strive to excel in building up
the ecclesia.”
Let us so love the word of God that we make it our study every day, and
then let us use the knowledge we have acquired to teach others and to
build up the ecclesia. May our knowledge of the ways of God help us and
others to stand fast, with one mind striving together for the faith of
the gospel.
Robert J. Lloyd