From time to time, I’ve been lauded for knowing a lot. More often I’m admonished for not knowing anything. It didn’t take much reflection for me to realize that the admonishment was more accurate.
I don’t know much. When what the knowledge that I’ve accumulated is compared to the vast store of potentially knowable information it is so insignificant that it could be called nothing. That bugs me.
I have an insatiable appetite to know. I want to understand how things work. I’d rather be a polymath than a superhero but I don’t know where to start. Why read that rather than this, why study this phenomenon rather than memorize that text? And once I do start what do I do with it all? At some point, the acquisition of facts is not enough. Scripture reveals that if I “can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge” but don’t love I’m nothing.
Somewhere along the line I need Wisdom. Again the Scripture points the way, “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.”
God, grant me wisdom to use my knowledge for Your glory.
I believe that it is Socrates who said “One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.” The acquisition of knowledge will only reveal how much that you truly do not know.
The pursuit of knowledge, without love, is meaningless. I’m glad that you recognize the need for Wisdom - the application of knowledge through love. I know that this too will be given you.
It is really humbling how this education stuff works, isn’t it? The more information you learn about a specific topic, the more you realize how much deeper and more complicated it gets. Additionally I really the point on how even if you have sufficient knowledge, it does not do any good if you do not know how to use it. Good writings…