To Whom Much is Given

Wednesday mornings are Bible Study mornings at NSA. It's right between Latin and Natural History (Biology), so I never have an excuse for not attending. This morning, Dr. Wilson spoke on wisdom vs. knowledge, humility, and edifying others, beginning with James 3:13,
"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom."

He tied this in to 1st Corinthians 8:1,
"Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."

Also Ephesians 4:29,
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

Dr. Wilson pointed out that people can be uneducated and wise, or extremely intelligent and foolish. He warned us against becoming arrogant because of our education. An education brings knowledge (a wonderful thing), but, if we aren't careful, knowledge can puff us up. I'd known all of this before, but today it felt like a punch in the gut. I could think back to specific instances just this week where I'd been arrogant in my mind (at the least), where I hadn't been loving and edifying when I should have been, and was anything but humble. I chewed on it for a few minutes, then put it away and got out the notebook for class.

Later though, it all came back, and I became annoyed with God. I said,
"Lord, you've been pointing out all of these sins, and I'm trying to deal with them here. You've got me working on patience, contentment, loving others, and all this other stuff, and now You're adding more! Can't You let me deal with them one at a time?" I heard a displeased voice say, "You know the answer to that." At this point, I was frustrated and angry. "Lord, I can't!" That stopped me up short. I can't. That's exactly what He has said from the beginning. I can't do it. I sat stupefied for a few seconds, digesting the news. I'd been striving in my own feeble strength, and was surprised at my constant failure. I knew all of the right things, and instead of gratefully accepting more knowledge with the realization of how little I know, I let it puff me up. I'd been thanking God that I wasn't as ignorant as some (a good thing to be thankful for), and He finally dropped a mirror in front of me to reveal the Pharisee. To whom much is given, much shall be required. And yet, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." God is ever mindful of my frame, and will never demand of me that which I cannot give. Christ has broken the power of reigning sin. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." I have the choice not to sin, because of the blood of Christ. I just need to be reminded constantly that I'm covered in Jesus' blood and righteousness, and my bloody rags have been cast away. To whom much is given, much shall be required.

"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." ~James 4:1-10