10th January, 2022.

START THE YEAR ON THE RIGHT FOOT Pt.10

Proverbs4:20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

MAKE GOOD USE OF KNOWLEDGE

Someone told me about a doctor who sent his wife packing from their marriage because she gave birth to females. As the custom is in most African states, he remarried so that he can have a male child. When she told me, I was surprised because a doctor is someone who has spent years in the medical school learning medical science. At one point or the other, he must have been taught that females have XX chromosome while men have XY chromosome which is a determinant of gender based whichever one produced by the man. Even O'level biology students know this truth. I'm sure that he must have counseled couples having similar crisis at some point based on knowledge of science. This doctor is fully aware of the fact that he's a determinant of the gender which is the same for other men but he ignored this knowledge to satisfy unhealthy tradition of men.

Over the years, I've seen people acquire knowledge but their lives doesn't reflect the knowledge they've acquired. There are believers who attend major conferences, bible seminars while some enrol in a seminary to upgrade their knowledge of scriptures and ministry yet no significant change in their lives. The days when they told us to empty our pocket into our brain witnessed many brethren buying books, listening to tapes and CDs of anointed preachers and teachers yet no significant growth. This is the era sound teachers on marriage and relationship. I doubt if there were family life ministries in the 50s, 60s and 70s like we have today. Our generation have more relationship and family life teachers or coaches yet the number of divorce keeps increasing and most singles are still making the very mistake those teachings emphasized they should avoid. Whose fault?

The problem is not with knowledge especially if it is the right knowledge, the problem often is always with those acquiring knowledge. They refuse to internalise what is taught. They have head knowledge but not heart knowledge. It is possible to be under a preacher/ pastor who teaches correctly yet no positive change because it is only an internalise knowledge that makes for fruitfulness and productivity in life. The showers of knowledge fall on many almost daily yet they are not soaked. The writer of proverbs( 4:20-22) says: "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. LET THEM PENETRATE DEEP INTO YOUR HEART, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body"( NLT). For knowledge to be fruitful, it must penetrate deep into our hearts. This year, let the knowledge of God's word and other useful knowledge that you will acquire penetrate deeply into your heart. Don't just be a reader of this daily devotional, receive the teachings with an open heart and make good use of them.