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 view themselves as Christians believe that Jesus is God and that the devil is a supernatural being who entices us to sin.
Those who take the time to study the scriptures soon realize that what they thought were the obvious answers are 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.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One