The Importance of Knowledge

But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master will be a long time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few." Luke 12: 45-48 NASB

We began our study of this portion of Scripture with the unfaithful servant , then being salt and light, and Christ and the Constitution. Yesterday, we looked at the importance of praying for our leaders. If you missed one of them, I hope you'll follow the link (it opens in a new tab) and get caught up.

At last, we are coming to the end of this passage. 

The topic today is the disobedient servant, the one who did not do the Master's will. Jesus made a distinction between the servant who knew his Master's will and the one who did not know His Master's will. The one who knew the Master's will yet still refused to obey will receive a greater punishment, in accordance to the degree of his sin. Knowing God's will, yet refusing to do it, indicates a greater degree of willfulness, a greater degree of rebellion against God, and deserves a greater consequence.

The one who does not know the Master's will and, therefore, fails to obey what he does not know, will receive a lesser punishment.

The word translated as "know" is ginōskō and indicates knowledge with understanding. This is knowledge that makes a difference in us, changes us because of our understanding. 

If I effectively study the Word of God, I will be changed (unless I make a conscious decision not to be changed) by His truth.

Lest we be tempted to decide we are better off without knowledge, think again. 

Our options are not limited to more punishment or less. Our options are obedience with reward or disobedience with consequences and no reward.

If  I want rewards from God, I must obey Him.

Jesus has a remarkable way of simplifying the life of a disciple. Obey or don't. Reward or consequence. We decide.

How easy is that?

The difficulty comes in seeking knowledge. Knowing God's will comes by knowing His Word. Knowing His Word comes by study. There are a plethora of study tools available today, some better than others. In parts of the world today, studying God's Word is a dangerous undertaking because of persecution of believers. In this country, it is not. 

What, then, is my excuse for failing to study God's Word?

There is no worthy excuse. From the beginning, God gave us the gift of choice. We can choose obedience or disobedience. From the first day in the Garden, He made it clear. Obedience is a choice for life. Disobedience is a choice for death. 

The choice is mine. The choice is yours.

Choose wisely. Choose life.

"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NASB

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Our Father, forgive us our lack of study, our lack of knowledge. Give us such a hunger for Your Word that we will study and learn and know how to please and obey You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Praying for our leaders: Pray for God's chosen leaders will emerge in the coming weeks of campaigning so that we might have the leaders He desires, not the ones we deserve.

#knowledge #Biblestudy #Godsword #disciple