By Katie Clark
You can’t solve every problem with a Google search, but if we’re honest, don’t we live our lives like we can? Rather than seeking out experts and mentors, don’t we simply stay in our own four walls, google the challenge, weed through the abundance of information online and make our decision?
Deuteronomy 32:28 says, “For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them.” Is this true of us today? I think we are deceived by the sheer amount of information available at our fingertips into thinking that we’re actually wiser and have greater understanding than previous generations did, but as I stew on that, I’m increasingly convinced that in fact the opposite is true.
In teaching about creating a healthy home environment in which to raise our children, Sally Clarkson warns of the “clutter” that a constant influx of information into our homes can cause. If we don’t shut off the technology, our homes will be so full of information to sort through that we will just be overwhelmed and shut down.
What should we be doing with knowledge? Is the goal to acquire as much as possible? Proverbs 2:1-11 says,
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commands with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,
This passage makes a couple of things clear:
- We must be attentive, listening, inclining our hearts, calling out for insight – seeking it like silver! This is not a simple Google search – this is a humble heart recognizing its need for counsel and a driven spirit to seek the Lord’s wisdom at great cost. This requires work, time, sacrifice and perseverance. Knowledge may be cheap and easy to acquire – but understanding and wisdom are not.
- Wisdom and understanding are critical for protection in this life. Wisdom is a shield and guard that will watch over you. It leads to every good path, righteousness, justice and equity. Where can we (or would we even want to) go in life without wisdom?
Lately, the concept of opportunity costs have been a big point of discussion in our family. On this topic, it seems clear that while knowledge is not harmful in itself, an overwhelming amount of it can be. When inundated with a constant stream of knowledge, do we have the time and energy to sit and consider, pray and contemplate, discuss with those wiser than us and really seek to use that knowledge to grow in maturity, discretion and wisdom? When I look around and watch the way most of us in our generation are living, we seem very content to search the internet for answers rather than seek the counsel and wisdom of those who have gone before us.
In an effort to push back on this trend and not be described as a people devoid of counsel and understanding, here are a few challenges I’m giving myself and anyone else wanting to grow in this area:
- Significantly reduce your time online. For many of us, our phones and other technology border on addiction and we need to call it what it is. Track how much time you’re on your phone. Set boundaries and time limits to keep yourself from cluttering your own mind and that of your family with an over-abundance of knowledge.
- Significantly increase your time in quiet contemplation. Put the technology away. Pick up your Bible and increase your time praying each day. Meditating on the Word, studying the Word and memorizing the Word are all largely lacking in the lives of many believers. The time for these things is largely sacrificed to listen to more sermons and podcasts (knowledge). While these have a place, without flexing our own spiritual muscles to study and understand the Word, we will remain spiritual infants. SEEK the Lord – not just a quick checkbox on the list, but really sit, listen, seek. Humbly come before the Lord asking for wisdom. James 1:5 promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
- Intentionally engage in relationships with people wiser than you. We must SEEK COUNSEL. In my experience the most fruitful counsel comes in the context of relationship. We can get great nuggets from books, podcasts, blogs, etc., but nothing comes close to an older, wiser person engaged in a long relationship with you, watching your life, listening to the way you think and speaking from life experience to offer targeted, godly, meaningful advice for YOUR life. The vast majority of trajectory-changing counsel that I have received came from a personal mentor. But we must seek this out, investing in relationships, sacrificing time and other pursuits to sit and listen at the feet of godly men and women.
Let’s not be a church devoid of counsel and understanding. Let’s commit right now to reduce the flow of information and replace it with seeking understanding and wisdom – which leads to every good path!