Knowledge is Power con'td

Yesterday I pursued knowledge and learned about alternative methods of organizing school curriculum. It was interesting, but it didn't get at what I was looking for. I was reminded that knowledge isn't really power it's just raw data. The power comes when we choose what to do with the knowledge that we have. This is the scary part about education without a moral basis - it doesn't provide guidelines for using the knowledge you've gained. Even with a moral basis there is always a chance knowledge will be used inappropriately (that pesky free will). If we are telling our kids (or ourselves) to seek knowledge we are barking up the wrong tree - knowledge shouldn't be an end in and of itself (although we talk about it like it is). I love Jeopardy - but life isn't about answering trivia questions.

We need to encourage our kids (and ourselves) towards what the Bible values - wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 2 reads:

1 My son, if you accept my words

and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding

Yesterday, was pretty fruitless, but today I went to church and one of the two slides read "seek power/understanding". Wow, that's what I've been thinking about. The pastor then directed us to Acts where it says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you". The power doesn't come by learning a lot, thinking a lot or reading a lot - it comes by asking and receiving from God. He clearly says in James 1:5 "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." One of the primary names of the Holy Spirit is our counselor. I am surprised at how often power and the Holy Spirit go together. I think the lesson is that we aren't really fit to have power on our own - we need to be dependent on God and His Spirit and allow His power to work through us. Now that's REAL power.

So I guess the mantra should be "God's wisdom and Holy Spirit is power". This is not the economy that the world trades in - but it should be what a renewed Christian mind seeks after.

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