Simple Knowledge

So far in the series “Seek First His Kingdom” we’ve unpacked how we are to live and obey in today. But what about all of our questions? What about the things that don’t make sense in today? What about when we are unsure and confused about the world, our response, the Lord, or even ourselves?

I have some encouragement for you here, as well.

It is anchored in 1 Cor. 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Paul knew a lot of things. He studied the law and Old Testament his whole life, and upon becoming a Christ-follower his sharp mind bent to know the Lord. He repeatedly points out that one of our greatest obediences is to know the Lord.

“Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:2)

“And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Col. 1:9)

But when addressing the church of Corinth, he reminds them of the core of what they are to understand, and the truth is so simple, it seems like foolishness. It is a reality so humble that it rubs our pride. The essence of our faith and very lives isn’t complicated, but it is rich.

It is Christ and him crucified.

That is our clarity when things are fuzzy. That is our direction when nothing else seems clear. This is our conviction when we arrogantly think that our knowledge and abilities are sufficient.

When I was in fifth grade I was a bit like Hermione Granger. In Sunday School, I knew all of the right answers. It got to the point that the teacher would never call on me, because he knew that I knew the answer. In frustration of being overlooked, I started to wonder what being a Christian was even about. Obviously it wasn’t about getting the right answers. I had all of those but knew I was missing the point.

That is when the Lord showed Himself powerfully to me and called me to a life of a fool. A fool for Christ. Suddenly, the answers didn’t matter so much in light of the cross. I saw my arrogance in trying to have it all figured out. My faith wasn’t because of my wisdom but Christ’s powerful love. His power is in fact perfected in my weakness, in my lack of understanding, and in my inability. More than that, He died to take upon the conseqences of my sin and failures and rose to life in order that I may know Him.

“If we put our truth in the crucified Christ for salvation, we die to the world; which means we give up every ground for boasting that the world including our own minds, can offer.” (Piper, “The Wisdom of Men and the Power of God,” italics mine)

We aren’t promised answers. We don’t deserve answers, for perhaps we seek them simply to boast that we know them, as I selfishly did in elementary school and still do. To be honest, we probably couldn’t handle the true answers to many of our questions. Who has known the mind of the Lord as to be His counselor? Certainly not me. I do not come to Him pretentiously demanding answers. I bow my heart before Him and remember Christ and Him crucified. Then the answers don’t seem so important.

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil 3:7-11)

Recently, I was overwhelmed with questions and uncertainty. They swirled in my brain until I couldn’t see up from down. I came to a breaking point. This is when 1 Cor. 2:2 became my clarity. Let’s get in my head for a second with this journal entry:

“I think I’ve been seeking to sort out my own mind and heart all the way, and that’s an impossibly messy task. I don’t have to have it all figured out in life or even in my own mind. This I know: CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED! And I continue to know Him more and the power of His resurrection, but I by no means have to have all church doctrine, my feelings, the depth of wisdom, apologetics, my future, marketing, or people all figured out. I don’t have to ‘untangle’ my heart. It isn’t tangled. It is safe and saved in the hands of Jesus. He has cleansed my mess there. He has welcomed me into His arms, though I squandered His blessings. He loves me. That is my clarity. I have figured out all that I need to know. The rest is built on that foundation and out of freedom, not necessity. What a difference!”

We get to know the breadth, length, height, and depth of His love for us, but we don’t have to know it all. In fact, we can’t. His love surpasses knowledge (Eph 3:14-21). And so the power of God anchors our souls in times of questions, in times when the wisdom of man fails us. When questions and uncertainties threaten to unravel us, we are called to stand upon the gospel and truth of Christ’s love for us, as shown in the crucifixion and resurrection.

This I know, Christ and Him crucified. The riches of that one truth will occupy my little mind for all eternity.

We are given today, and today the Lord is good. We can leave yesterday’s sorrows and tomorrow’s worries where they belong as we make the daily decision to obey the Lord and follow Him. There, our questions are answered in Christ and Him crucified.

I wrap up the series, “Seek First His Kingdom” next time with practices on how to discipline in delight and how to delight in discipline. Until then,

Hannah