Idolatry 6: Knowledge

Intro

story of the boy and the carriage

he fell in love with the carriage ride and failed to realize that the purpose was to take him to the king

knowledge without purpose leads to frustration

knowledge to serve the self leads to pride

both put something good and helpful in the place of God

Ecclesiastes 1&12

Solomon begins and ends with talking about wisdom

this was the gift that he asked God for and is one of his major markers for the good that he did as king of Israel

Solomon strove after wisdom until he had more than any other or any before him

but the knowledge only increased his sorrow

that wisdom he hoped would come with the answers for a simpler and better life only brought him more troubles

just like the story before, he spent a life using the carriage for the wrong thing

the knowledge he recieved as a gift was meant to bring him closer to God and help him lead his people to do the same

he used it to build his own kingdom and for his own gain and he still only found sorrow

1 Corinth 1&2

begins by talking about people quarreling about who they follow

maybe they think someone’s teaching disagrees with another

Paul says just as we were all baptized into Christ to be crucified with him, it is him whom we follow

his wisdom is what we are trying to emulate

he is the only one whose words are worth following, no matter what some well spoken person might say that makes you feel good

Jesus and him crucified is our knowledge

beyond salvation in the gospel, we are striving after wind

Application

don’t drop out of school, but don’t think that somehow by being intelligent you will be saved

a life putting knowledge where God ought to be, even with the best of intentions is still folly according to the wisest to ever live

do the will of God

listen to what he has commanded

be buried and raised with him and tell other people they need to do the same and if that’s all that you know in this life you’ve known more than the wisest man ever got to know in his lifetime