Knowledge Needs Zeal and Discretion

David W Palmer

God has made his true knowledge available; we need the foundation of our life to be made 100% from it, or it will crumble in this next season of shaking.

Avoid zeal without knowledge

(Romans 10:2 NKJV) “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

Lack of true knowledge can be disguised behind brilliant zeal. We all need an abundance of passionate fervor, but even a good thing like zeal is of no use unless guided by true knowledge—spoken in love, of course.

Knowledge needs discretion

Once we gain knowledge, we need to use it wisely, and with discretion. If used incorrectly, even God’s true knowledge can be operated so that it becomes foolishness:

(Proverbs 15:2 NKJV) “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”

(Proverbs 15:7 NKJV) “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so.”

(Proverbs 17:27 NKJV) “He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.”

(Proverbs 19:2 NLT) “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”

(Proverbs 12:23 NKJV) “A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.”

From these proverbs, we see that we need to use knowledge rightly, and that we need to share it sparingly with a calm spirit. At times, we need to conceal it all together—If we don’t find a worthy heart to share it with. Jesus said:

(Matthew 7:6 DKJV) “Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, and don’t throw your pearls before swine, in case they trample them under their feet, and turn again and tear you to pieces.”

We must remember that even the truth—if it is not communicated in love—is not God:

(Ephesians 4:15 NKJV) “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”

Let’s always ensure that we deal with the truth maturely in love. And let’s be wise to share truth only with those for whom it is love for them to receive it. If they are not mature enough to use it correctly, love’s wisdom says not to share it with them. After all, you may trust your children implicitly, but until they reach the appropriate age (maturity), you certainly don’t trust them to drive your car or to care for a baby. Similarly, truth has to be dispersed judiciously, and only to those who will not abuse it. Jesus is the Truth, if we put him into the wrong hands—those who will abuse and misuse him—it’s like Judas’s betrayal all over again.

Those who are not mature, and who do not have God’s love, always do what the wicked Jews did: they hand the Living Word of God over to the unbelievers to judge, then take him to the place of the skull and crucify him there. God’s word always makes faith in the heart of his born again, loving, devoted followers; but to others, who judge him with their intellects, he does not make sense. So they ridicule, mock, spit on, and ultimately crucify him in public. Thankfully, God’s Living word has resurrection power; no matter how much they have maligned him, disbelieved him, and put him to open shame, he will rise again.

However, it is better not to hand him over to the abusers, but to keep him in your heart until you find those who are his allies—those who will love and cherish him:

(John 19:17–18 NKJV) “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, {18} where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.”

If we take Jesus, the Living Word of God, to the place of the skull, he will always come carrying his cross. God designed his word to be spiritual food; he lives, and takes root, and bears fruit in our hearts, not our heads. God’s primary purpose for his word is creation; he lives in willing hearts and always makes faith … but not always intellectual sense.

Today, as well as ensuring we are receiving and growing in our knowledge of God’s truth, let’s also ensure we share it wisely, lovingly, and with insightful discretion.