Knowledge is Power

It is often said, “Knowledge is power”.
Power; The ability to influence people or events. 2. The right or authority to do something.
We all have been blessed with knowledge. Some are favorably blessed with more than the average person and others study continuously to grasp as much as they can. It is common knowledge that the learned (whether book- or streetwise) are always the people who are continually making strides and seeing repeated occasions of success throughout their lifetime. Depending on the level of determination, the occasions of success will vary dramatically. (I encourage everyone to expand your knowledge (power) and increase your drive to do every task (no matter how small) the best you can. This will positively influence your moments of success. Remember though, your failures will increase too. Do not be discouraged; begin with a made up mind to progress and don’t stop until you’re where you want to be.) It is in all of us to influence people and/or events, as well as we all have the authority (right, liberty) to do something.

As always, with power comes responsibility. Knowledge requires us to act with kindness towards anyone who comes to us seeking something from our own store of wisdom. Knowledge alone makes people (self-righteous) arrogant, but love (that unselfishly seeks the best for others) builds up and encourages others to grow (in wisdom). [1 Corinthians 8:1] Therefore, when we are confronted by people who lack knowledge in any area where we are learned we ought to give generously and without rebuke or blame. [James 1:5] We approach the person with compassion acting for their edification. Otherwise, it’s an abuse of power.

The responsibilities of knowledge are meant to keep us from wallowing in the mire. They are meant to keep us clean and remind us to be humble. There is no evidence of ignorance more common than conceit due to the fact that we have knowledge. After all, even the profound Albert Einstein admitted, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I do not know”. Therefore let us not be excessively righteous and not be overly wise, and count ourselves as nothing. [Ecclesiastes 7:16] Offer knowledge where it’s accepted. Do not correct a scoffer (who foolishly ridicules and takes no responsibility for his error) or he will hate you; correct a wise man (who learns from his error), and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser; Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. [Proverbs 9:8-9]

Here is a scenario. There is a discussion on a topic you are very familiar with. Four of your friends are arguing their individual points: two are sparingly informed on the topic, one is impressively accurate, the other is actively participating with no knowledge on the matter. The advisable thing is often to sit it out and listen, observe. Knowledge is power. Power needs control or else it becomes dangerous. More is learnt in silence than in constantly being a part of the noise. Even a (callous, arrogant) fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding. [Proverbs 17:28] Silence can be a very profound way of communicating, especially for someone one acknowledges as being wise. It says that I am listening, I am learning from all four of you, I’m learning from this scenario or, my input is unnecessary.

Knowledge gives us the power to state all the facts that we know and admit that there are facts we don’t. Let’s start taking all the more responsibility for our knowledge, understanding the power it wields in our lives and the lives of others. Let us be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. [James 1:19] Let’s use our lawful liberty of knowledge with love, and not to the detriment of the less informed person.

GOD. LOVE. MUSIC.

-Toni Lawr