THE GREATNESS OF PARTIAL KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 18: 15 “The heart of the prudent gets knowledge and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”

Proverbs 2: 6 “For the Lord gives wisdom, out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”

By Van Yandell

We’ve often heard the stories of when we were young; we thought we had all the answers. Knowing everything we needed to know, as time passed, we realized how great a wealth of knowledge exists in the world.

One purpose of education may be for us to learn how much knowledge there is. As time passes, in many of us, a great curiosity develops to gain as much of that knowledge as we can.

Daniel 12: 4 “But thou O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase.”

God spoke to us through the prophet Daniel over 2500 years ago and told us knowledge would increase. We are now told knowledge/information is increasing exponentially. Daniel’s prophesy is being fulfilled.

What does this say to us individually and collectively? Basically, the older we get, the more we realize how much more there is to learn.

One of my favorite cousins told me the year I started college, “The first two years you learn how dumb you are.”  Over the years I’ve realized just how truthful that statement was and still is even today. The more we learn, the more many of us want to know.

A stagnant mind is one that knows nothing and has no desire to learn anything. Perhaps you’ve met people and had the thought, “If everyone was like him, we’d still be living in caves.” At times I’m not sure if that person is to be pitied or envied.

In Bible study, perhaps you and I have something in common. We find that in studying the Holy Bible there is a depth in which we cannot reach. Every reading (with prayer and meditation) reveals something new.

In a recent article I addressed the study of “The Battle of Jericho.” In that study we find that God does things in a logical sequence in order to achieve His desired outcome. Many of the actions and situations have a purpose and many of those purposes throughout the Old Testament were preparing for the coming of Savior Jesus.

In The Book of Joshua, the Israelites re-entered The Promised Land (Israel). God led them out of bondage in Egypt because they had to be in Israel, specifically Jerusalem and Bethlehem, for the Savior to be born, to live, to be crucified and resurrected.

This series of actions led to the redemption of the world. John 3: 16 “Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

In our Bible study we find advances and progressions that verify the Biblical accounts as actually having happened. Combining the Biblical information, archeological findings and carbon dating, verification can be authenticated.

I have come to believe such Bible stories as Jericho, Adam and Eve/creation, the parting of the waters, the flood and many other happenings documented in the Bible, without doubt, really did occur.

The greatness of partial knowledge is that it motivates us to seek even more. In some, the desire for knowledge is insatiable. This is especially true in Bible study. We soon learn the depth of God’s inspired word has much more than a superficial reading would provide.

As an industrial arts teacher, I was devastated when most school systems eliminated the subject. My last four years I taught in a technology lab and must admit it was interesting and even somewhat fun to learn about the new concepts and applications.

Realizing at the same time we were about to embark of the conditioning of an entire generation (now in the second generation) of young people that were mechanically and functionally illiterate. I’ll be the first to admit that everyone does not need to know how to build a house, rebuild an engine or change a carburetor on a chain saw, but a few skills are necessary.

Most everyone lives in a home where a few skills are essential that would be learned in an industrial arts class. Wiring a switch or lamp, changing the float valve in a water closet or repairing a piece of damaged furniture could prove beneficial.

Vocational agriculture, home economics and business principles could benefit many. Many college graduates would not know how to plant a garden or care for animals. Of course those skills are not needed with a Publix or Winn Dixie down the street but who is to say they will always be there.

Yes, I can plant a garden, operate a sewing machine and cook a chicken pot pie. The lyrics of the Hank Williams Jr. song “A Country Boy Can Survive” should be an admonition.

To be economically illiterate can lead to a life of financial misery. Being misinformed and uninformed about our nation’s history can lead to misplaced values concerning our great country.

Partial knowledge can be motivational or dangerous and perhaps there is a thin line between the two. To have partial knowledge of The Word of God (the scripture) should motivate us to seek more. For others, however, superficially, the scripture may seem as a fairy tale or too good to be true.

The simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is essential for eternal salvation. The depth of the scriptures that only God understands is inspiration for all of us to “dig deeper.”

It is the choice of the individual to determine his/her own desires for knowledge. I’ve told many young people the greatest, most beneficial characteristic you can have are those of perseverance and determination. They are no more important than in the seeking of knowledge.

Set your priorities and values. Those are your choices! Choose wisely.

Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained Gospel Evangelist and commissioned missionary. His email is: vmy3451@gmail.com.