Humility, The True Knowledge of God

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Knowledge. In society today knowledge is pursued. It is honored. It carries with it certain levels of privilege and even status. We can attend institutions of higher learning, specialize in an infinite amount of concentrations, and hang our accomplishments on our walls as a testament to how much we think we have learned. The truth is that knowledge and the acquisition of knowledge can be one of the largest obstacles in accepting God and even in our walk with the Lord it can be a hindrance.

The dictionary defines knowledge as:

Acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation

Unfortunately in the world, the value is put on the facts, truths and principles of man, not God. So man studies what man has originated. Man investigates what man has originated. When enough study and investigation are completed, they call that person "knowledgeable." But what about God? Jesus tells a story about a certain rich fool who had been blessed by an abundant crop but had no where to store it. Instead of reflecting to God, he decided that he would build larger storehouses and sit back on his abundance and "eat, drink, and be merry." What he did not know is that very night his life would be required of him. Jesus referred to him as a "fool." What was his greatest failure? Certainly his solution was logical. If you have so much crop, it makes sense to build a bigger storehouse. Certainly there is nothing wrong with planning ahead. That again would only be logical; knowledgeable. The problem is that he did not consider God in any of it. He did not recognize that the very crop he was blessed with was from God. He did not return any portion to God. He did not give any credit to God. Lastly, when he was planning what to do, he did not include God in the plans. God was not even an afterthought.

That is how it is for people in the world. They believe they are self-made. They believe that what they earn is due to themselves and not God. There are many keys to the Christian life but one constant has to be humility. The acceptance that everything you have is from God. You might have planted the crop but he provided the seed! You may have tilled the soil but he provided the sun and rain! You may have harvested the grain but He provided the increase! You may provide the labor but He provided the opportunity! This lesson is lost on those who remain knowledgeable only by the standards of man.

The standards of God however state that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. If you wish to even begin seeking knowledge, you must fear God. Why fear? The proverb is speaking to acknowledging that God is in control of everything. The rich fool would have been wise to realize that God provided the abundant crop and if He wished, He could take it back, or even demand his life. The fear of God would have let the rich fool keep God first in everything.

The proverb speaks to the other side as well. While the very beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord, fools despise wisdom and instruction. Notice the opposites God draws in this proverb. If you do not fear the Lord you must despise wisdom and instruction. Let's start with wisdom, which is defined as:

The quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.

While knowledge might be acquired it is not wisdom until it is implemented correctly. Have you ever had to deal with someone who clearly is knowledgeable but consistently makes poor decisions? They are not wise. James reminds us where we can get wisdom if we seek it:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5   Wisdom also comes from God. Too often though we can allow our pride to corrupt these basic facts. We can start to think that somehow we are responsible for the successes we have in life. We can start to have our ego swell up inside of us and think that it is not God that has provided all. In those moments we are like the rich fool who reflects to what is logical instead of what God would want. We can get ahead of God. We lose our perspective; our humility.  

And what of instruction? Do you know people who think they know everything? Do they appear "teachable" to you? If you have no fear of God, why would you listen? Why would you think that He could impart any wisdom to you? Those in the world rely on what man has put forth, not God. The world we live in is very me-centric and rewards the very things that are opposite from God. It embraces the theology of "me." Humanism seeks to make man into God.

  But the proverb goes further. It states that the fool actually despises wisdom and instruction. He hates it because it forces him to consider that he is not responsible for his own success. This is not something that is easily overcome. Society reinforces that "no one can tell me what to do" attitude and actually rewards it! It is something we must constantly guard our hearts against. The higher up in ministry we go, the more accolades will come our way and the easier it is to forget from where your success comes from. We must fear the Lord at all times. We must remember that He is in control. When Jesus was starting His ministry, the ministry of John the Baptist was at its height. John had disciples that followed him too. He had some popular acclaim. People knew who he was. This was an easy situation to possibly start taking credit for what God had provided. John the Baptist was confronted then about why more people were going to Jesus than John for baptism! A very human reaction indeed. John had the corner on the baptism business and here was this new guy. Pay attention to the response John gave:   To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. John 3: 27-30

 

John had the fear of the Lord. He knew from where his success came from. He acknowledged that he can only receive what God gives. He acknowledged that He is not God but belongs to God. And in the end, John the Baptist provides the perfect outline for maintaining humility; He must become greater and I must become less. That is the constant struggle we must fight as Christians. God must constantly and consistently become more in your life and you must become less. Your needs must become less. Your desires must become less. Your flesh must become less. When that starts to happen, you will become more teachable. You will start to be more concerned with God's needs. Your wisdom will be based on what God desires. You will have started on the path to true knowledge, with the fear of God; the complete acknowledgment of Him in your life, leading your way.

Anthony Wade December 11, 2007