Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom

Knowledge

During his final imprisonment, the Apostle Paul warned Timothy, the pastor of the church at Ephesus, about false teachers who were spreading harmful doctrines. He carefully instructed Timothy on the importance of handling Scripture accurately in order to protect the church from error.

That warning remains relevant to us today as well. False teachers can be found both inside and outside the Church, making it essential for believers to approach God's Word with seriousness, humility, and integrity. We must strive to interpret Scripture in its proper context, avoiding distortions or personal biases that can lead to misunderstanding.

As believers, we are called to be diligent in reading and studying the Bible so that we may receive God's approval rather than seek human praise. This requires discipline and a sincere commitment to learning His Word. As we gain knowledge of God through His Word, we begin to develop a clearer understanding of the meaning of what God is telling us through His Word. But, we certainly have to go beyond head knowledge of the Scriptures in order for the Scripture to take hold of our lives.

God tells us in Joshua 1:8 of the importance of speaking forth His Word instead of just quietly reading the words on the pages of our Bible.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night...

Understanding

Christians often have a misunderstanding of the word "meditate." Searching it out in the Koine Greek language of Bible times, it does not mean that we think and think on what we read, but that we mutter those words out loud over and over to ourselves so that we can retain it far more than reading it within our minds.  When we speak what we read, it goes back into our ears instead of getting lost in the never, never land of forgetfulness. Our retention of remembering it is far greater than just reading it in our minds.

The Word of God carries with it such an anointing to where the words carry power to reach deep into our spirit, going beyond the soul of our mind, will and emotions. When we then mutter (speak out loud) God's Word day and night, we are repeatedly bringing God's Word deeper and deeper into our spirit to where God's revelation of truth grows into wisdom enabling us to discern and follow what God is communicating to us through His Word.

Wisdom

God wants all of His people to walk in wisdom - the wisdom that comes from Him. He tells us in James 1:5 that if we lack wisdom, He wants us to ask Him and He will give it liberally. Studying the verses around that verse, however, God is telling us that we need to ask for wisdom in faith, not doubting. God is a God of order; therefore, we must have a knowledge and understanding of Him and His ways in what we are asking wisdom for in any given situation. We can't operate blindly asking God to give us all the wisdom we need expecting God to miraculous turn us into a wise person. He expect us to do our part in the equation. Remember, first comes knowledge, then understanding, and finally asking for wisdom to see that situation from God's perspective.

Proverbs 2:6-7 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.

Now live accordingly

God gives His wisdom to those who seek His knowledge, purposing to understand God's ways. For then when we ask for wisdom, He will liberally give it to us. The next verse in Proverbs 2 is...God stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. So then, can we purpose to walk uprightly before God on a daily basis as we learn more of Him, seeking to understand His ways? For then when we do, God will then give us generously His wisdom when we seek and ask Him.

There is no better way to live!