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Saturday, January 2, 2016

Quiet Time: Well, What Do You Know

Knowledge Without Wisdom
Well, What Do You Know
  
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly. - Proverbs 13:16

... increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. - Ecclesiastes 1:18 

 I've been spending a lot of time lately working on my son's car. The thing just wouldn't idle without conking out. So, a mechanic friend dropped by the house; and, after running an OBD (On Board Diagnostic) He recommended changing the TPS (Throttle Position Sensor). The TPS costs $130 new and once you break the seal on the package, you've bought it. That knowledge hurt!

Solomon, literally the wisest man on earth, wrote both of the aphorisms in today's devotional. He affirms the benefits of acting with knowledge. In other words, don't just be a parts changer; understand the how and why of something before moving forward. I'm sure we can all remember a moment when we acted or spoke before thinking. Not good. 

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon seems to contradict his own God given proverb; but, when viewed in context we see that he is referring to acquiring meaningless facts and trivialities without a view to godliness. God wants us to know Him in every circumstance; even something as mundane as working on a broken car (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

Knowledge is power, or so we've heard. However, I'm not so sure I agree. It seems that accumulating knowledge without acting upon it simply wears a person down. Kind of like knowing what the Bible says to do but not acting upon it. 

By the way, I did replace the TPS, but not before checking it with a digital multi-meter to determine if it actually needed replacing. (I also pulled a used TPS from a wrecked car at the junk yard for about $7). Outcome: I know how and why sensors work, how to test them, change them, and, oh yeah, no more conking out. Thank you Lord!


Here's a memory aid:

 



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