Do you know too many things?

A. W. Tozer said; "One trouble with us today is that we know too many things."  As I read his quote (written in the 20th century) I thought about that scripture in Eccl 1:17-18 where Solomon wrote;

"And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.  For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow."

Remember, in the context of Eccl 1 Solomon is writing about a wisdom that is "under the heaven". This knowledge, this wisdom, is not from above. Solomon found the pursuit of knowing things, the pursuit of wisdom "under the sun" (earthly wisdom) to be "vexation of spirit" (wind grabbing). He found it to be empty and he found that it produced sorrow.

Now I'm not discounting knowing all things or everything for that matter but what I believe Mr Tozer was getting at was our relationship to our Creator, our walk with God, our knowledge of Him. So, do you and I know too many things? Are our hearts and minds filled with empty knowledge? Are our minds cluttered, perhaps choking out the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

May we, "through God" be those who are "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"! May we be found in the company of the apostle Paul who said towards the end of his life here on earth, "that I may know Him".

It is written

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:25

Some thoughts from Luke 7 by Pastor Gene Breed

Wisdom's Children

Luke 7:28-35

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.


1. Wisdom's Children justify ("vindicate, prove to be divine and true"). Heavenly Wisdom! Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. In this verse, God is justified. In verse 35, Wisdom is justified! Hence we see that God is wisdom! See Proverbs 8:12 and following. Read also 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30.

2. The children of this world's generation will never receive God's revelation no matter who He sends! Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Read also verses 31 through 34 above. Receiving the baptism of John (v.29), caused all sinners to justify God. But these, supposing themselves righteous, refused to receive John, thus refusing to justify God. They rejected God's counsel that they were sinners! Read 1 John 1:10.

3. Whether God sends piping or mourning ministries, Wisdom's Children will always appropriately respond! - See Luke 6:21-23, Whether the gospel requires their weeping, or laughing, their being hungry, or being filled, or being hated and separated on earth, they are blessed in doing so! See Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26.
This is that hidden wisdom that the princes of this world know nothing about! Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-8.

4. Nothing pleases the world's children! - They only have that earthly, sensual, even devilish wisdom! James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Their emotional responses are according to their base, unregenerate hearts. Read Psalm 35:11-16. They never have true expression of Spiritual leadings that justify God! Read 1 Corinthians 2:14-15.

5. Knowing their obstinacy, God's wisdom is to send them a variety of ministries to sin against! - Luke 11:47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. 49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
The rich man in hell said if one from the grave preached they would hear! God said, Though one rose from the dead THEY WILL NOT HEAR! - And one did rise from the grave!


Gene Breed is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Jonesboro, GA. The church website is: http://www.truthtapes.com.

Monday

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor. 1:30-31


All that I need, and all that God requires is found in His beloved Son.

What Does the Lord Understand?

An excerpt from Dr. Jay Wimberly's sermon notes of a message delivered September 7, 2003 to The Main Street Baptist Church in Auburndale, FL. The text is from Micah 4:12:

"But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor."


I have searched the scriptures and cannot find the understanding of the Lord. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33)

Yet I hear men say quite often, "Oh, I think the Lord understands..." [Almost always in justification of something they have done or want to do.]

I thought it well to investigate this, to research what the Lord understands, and see if it at all matches what I hear people talking about-- what people are attributing to Him.

What does the Lord Understand?

The first thing that is obvious in the scriptures about what the Lord understands is that He is not thinking about a lot of the things that are occupying our minds.

He's not nearly as recreational as we are.

His logic is different:
He considers truth more valuable than creature comforts.
The gospel is more important than money.
Heavenly concerns are greater than earthly.

Is anyone interested in going on any farther? God's understanding is different than ours!

without reproach

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him." James 1:5

These are sweet words and instructive words for believers, for those washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are sweet food for my soul. They are sweet in that they speak of the kindness and compassion of my heavenly Father. They are instructive in that I should seek to be like Him in the way that I treat others who might come to me for advice or "wisdom".

When I lack wisdom I can freely go to my Father through His Son and seek it without fear of reproach. He will not say 'I told you so'. He will not find fault with me for my lack of wisdom. There is no doubt that God can and does rebuke us and convict us for our sins. But here James tells us when we are in the middle of great trials and difficulties, when we are struggling, confused, and do not know where to turn. We can call upon our Father in heaven and He will hear us and he will not upbraid us, it will be without reproach! Sweet, sweet words for my soul.

These words; "upbraideth not" also instruct me! He who is perfect, He who is holy has commanded me to be like Him. (Mat. 5:48) So I should seek to be like Him in kindness and compassion. If and when someone comes to me for advice and wisdom I should freely give it to them without upbraiding them, that is without reproach, without fault finding, without criticizing. May the Lord help me to do just that.