A Jot from John
“Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge. . . .” (2 Peter 1:5).
The right kind of knowledge is indispensable to Christian growth. Supplying, or adding knowledge and all the other things Peter mentioned is equivalent to “if these things are yours” of verse 8, and “if ye do these things” of verse 10. Our adding or supplying knowledge involves knowledge being in us or being ours, and this involves our doing something. A Christian’s supplying knowledge in addition to his faith and virtue requires work!
Some experts have said that the average mind has only about 15 percent of its potential developed and used. If this is true, it is alarming to think of how little of that 15 percent is actually used on spiritual truths which are revealed in the Bible.
Perhaps, even many Christians are mentally lazy. It seems that many members of the church prefer to hear in sermons what they already know, or that with which they are already fairly familiar. It is good to hear that which we already know, just as Peter wrote a little further in our text. (2 Peter 1:12-15). However, we should be anxious to learn more and more of God’s truth. Some are so mentally lazy that they may accuse the preacher of not preaching the truth if he preaches something they did not already know, and one such may even say to the Preacher: “That was over my head.” He may be virtually saying: “I am too lazy to listen to such.” A preacher can be difficult to understand, but a listener may be a poor hearer.
The story is told of a young man in ancient Athens who went to the great teacher Socrates and told him he wanted knowledge. Socrates said nothing but took the young man by the hand and led him some distance to a pool of water and walked with the boy into the pool until the boy’s head was under the water. He held the lad under the water until his breath was almost all gone. When he let him come up, the boy was gasping for breath, whereupon Socrates asked him what he wanted most while under the water. The boy replied: Air, air!” Socrates them said: “When you want knowledge like you wanted air, you will get it.”
If brethren desire to add knowledge, they do not have to be begged to attend Bible study classes. We do not need gimmicks to get people to Bible classes who desire to know more; who desire to add knowledge! “For verily I say unto you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which you hear, and heard them not.” (Matt 13:17). In this passage our Saviour rebuked those who could have learned from him but would not; they did not desire to add to their virtue, knowledge.
Onward Rejoicing, John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
