The Know It All

We all have people like this in our lives and maybe even in our families. They have a need to be right all the time, it is a pride thing and it has a way of making others around them feel small. These are people who no matter the topic they seem to have an answer for it and if you try to correct them they convince you of just how knowledgeable they are and how much you don’t know. Let’s just admit it, we all have a topic or two that we claim to be an expert in. I topic we find interesting and want to amount as much knowledge in that area as possible. It is not a bad thing to want to increase your knowledge on that topic or on a variety of topics, but it becomes a problem when your identity is completely tied up in being the most knowledgeable person in the room.

Personally, I think it is very important to never stop learning and always be seeking knowledge, but there is one thing we have to keep in mind, we can not understand everything. There are things in this world that will never make sense in our human understanding, but that is alright. God is the creator of all things and He knows. God is the only one who can grasp the complexities of everything that has happened, is happening now, and will ever happen. We have to have faith in God and that He is in control of it all. Even the biblical scholars and people who spend their whole lives studying God’s word will not be able to grasp the complexities of this world. Accepting that we cannot know it all is a humbling experience, it is saying, “I am only human and I know that my knowledge is limited.” Once you accept that fact and trust in God’s knowledge it takes a lot of stress off your shoulders. For example, you don’t have to be ready to explain why or how the sun and moon hang perfectly in the sky. We just have to know who set the sun and moon there and be able to give a reason for the hope we have in Him. 1 Peter 3;15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

As believers, we are called to humble ourselves and trust in the Lord. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” We also can learn from King Solomon in 1 Kings, He could have asked for anything but we asked for discernment and wisdom. God was pleased with Solomon’s request and blessed him greatly. In both of these scriptures, we learn that when we rely on God and humble ourselves He is able to work wonders in our lives. For example, think about a time when you were trying to dress a small child or infant. When they are moving around and trying to do it “their way” it makes the process very time-consuming and difficult but if they relax and allow you to make the moves it become much easier and causes less stress on you and the child. This is similar to when we as humans try to know it all and make all of the decisions in our own lives. It is messing and difficult until we just relax and allow God to make the movements for us.

So you don’t know it all? Great! You can’t understand the complexities of God’s grace? That is fine. Accepting that we do not and cannot know it all is a huge step in allowing God to move in our lives. When we give up on the fantasy that we can control the things of this world we become much happier and healthier. Although giving up control of our lives can be challenging for many of us it leads to a more fulfilling and blessed life. So next time you are faced with a tough biblical question that you don’t know, just remember that doesn’t make you any less of a child of God. It makes you a humble servant who understands that there is a wonderful Father who loves, guides, and protects us.

I have answered many biblical/religious questions with this line, “I am not sure about that but I worship an all-knowing God who does know and He can guide me.”

God bless and don’t be a know it all!