In the information age, knowledge is expanding at exponential rates. My phone has 1000 times the computing power than my childhood computer did. We can travel the world by plane in hours, but we can travel the world virtually in seconds. Language barriers are quickly becoming a thing of the past, and science and technology seem to have no limits in their capabilities.In step with this explosion of knowledge is an explosion of pride. In a survey taken in the 1950’s, 12% of high school seniors responded that they were a very important person. Today, 80% saw themselves as being very important. A recent poll of college students shows that the majority of college students would rather receive a compliment than eat their favorite food or have sex. Almost all of our social problems around the world today can be traced to pride: pride in oneself, pride in one’s culture, even pride in one’s religious zeal.
And the problems come because “God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
As we begin this year-long journey in transformation of our mind, let us not start with the premise of gaining more knowledge. What can knowledge profit us but a slippery slope into pride? Rather let us begin in a place of humility.
Let us bow our knees before the Father, and ask for grace. Grace to forgive our haughty hearts, grace to remain humble even in a greater revelation of Him, and most importantly grace in intimacy—knowing Him and not just knowing about Him because when we know Him, we will grow in humble love rather than prideful knowledge.
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)
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