The quest for knowledge
The quest for having a superior knowledge and wisdom seems to be the destiny of mankind and now more than ever. The ability to discern between deceptive behaviors and conning conversations, between good and evil is intriguing to us. It is portrayed in our superheroes and viewed in our movies. The knowledge of this world has always been enticing and luring for us. In fact, the prophecy of Daniel has been fulfilled these days (Da12:4) that knowledge will increase. In fact, there is a knowledge that God frowns upon, it is the worldly knowledge. This knowledge or wisdom directs itself to the pleasures of life (1Cor3:19-20). There is a knowledge or wisdom that God enjoys and that one directs itself towards the things that pertains to his kingdom. (Co1:10). These two knowledges when tried to mix always collied they just do not work together.
1 King 3:9-10
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
Solomon was a young man when he was given the keys to the kingship of Israel by his father king David. He lacked people’s skills, organizational skills, wisdom and knowledge. He was thrown into a position of leadership that was beyond his capacity, and he recognized that. The only way that he could successfully lead was if he had an understanding heart discerning between good and evil. He needed to know about what good, and evil was, and with that type of knowledge he needed experience. So, when God asked him what he would like now that he was king of Israel, he asked the same thing God told Adam not to eat, out of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Ge2:16-17). Eve did not have the need to eat of this tree, because Adam and her were led by God and were to rely only on the wisdom of God. Eve’s interest in knowing what good and evil was really about awoke, she did not think about the goodness of God when she ate. Her knowledge of evil introduced her to a realm of which she was not created for, the want experience.
We all are born with this interest in good and bad. We want to know the measure of something in dept, how good or bad something is. For some, just having that knowledge is not enough, at the end point they find themselves needing to choose between good and evil. Solomon chose to experience evil; it was not enough for him to just discern how bad something was. He wasted his time practicing the evil he learnt (Ec1:14). He could not become practical with the knowledge he had acquired. Luke tells us that in order for anyone to have control over this knowledge of good and evil, one needs to be practical in the use of the word (He5:14).
Daniel 12:4
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
1 Corinthians 3:19-20
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Colossians 1:10
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Ecclesiastes 1:14
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Hebrews 5:14
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.