“Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”” Luke 8:18 ESV.
Reflection: what IS the key difference between knowledge and wisdom?
year Stepping on the scale after Christmas can be a bit of a shock. The result of eating too much, lack of activity and enjoying time with family and friends somehow translates to increased weight. And the good thing is that, with a few changes in diet and exercise, the weight will come back off again. The trick is,
actually doing it.
IIt is not eenough to know about a healthy lifestyle, you have to live it. That is, unless you just plan to teach others and not apply it to yourself.
Jesus says to his disciples that “how” we hear matters. He has just completed the parable of the sower, where he tells of four ways of “hearing”; notice ALL four types of people receive the same Word; only one bear fruit from it. How we hear implies how we value, protect, nurture and apply the Word into our lives, so that it can bear fruit. It is given to us in love, by our Father. But knowing it is not enough. We have to apply it, make it part of us. That is a very serious message
to all who want to follow Christ.
In fact, Jesus gives sa profound revelation right after, making it clear who truly are God’s children. “But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”” Luke 8:21 ESV. It is not enough to just hear it. It cannot be clearer. SV
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The Bible is full of eternal, life altering and life saving truths. And we know that many hear, even go to church, participate in Bible studies, and so on, but a lot of it is in one ear and out the other. These truths are treated as “noble”, “nice”, “historic” or even worse, “not relevant”.
And in doing so, fail the most important part of the whole thing – applying the truth. This is why Jesus said “even what he thinks that he has will be taken away”.
James said “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 ESVV. The Word of God is given to chart a new course for our lives, so that we can be saved from the cloud of lies and deception filled in this world.
To hear a truth only gives us knowledge about the truth. Only when we apply the truth to our lives do we become wise. Only fools have knowledge and no application. “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” James 1:23-24 ESVV
“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15 ESV