How Does the Godly Man Use His Knowledge? (Part 1)

The Godly Man's Picture

The Characteristics Of A Godly Man - Part 6
by Thomas Watson

We have spoken of the truth that a godly man has a great knowledge from God that has a number of different aspects.  Let us test ourselves by this characteristic:

Use 1: Are they godly, who are still in the region of darkness?

“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” (Proverbs 19:2).

Ignorant people cannot give God “a reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). It is sad that after the Sun of righteousness has shone so long in our hemisphere, people should still be under the power of ignorance. Perhaps in the things of the world they know enough, none shall outreach them - but in the things of God - they have no knowledge. Nahash wanted to make a covenant with Israel, that he might “put out their right eyes” (1 Sam. 11:2).

Though men have knowledge in secular matters; the devil has put out their right eye - they do not understand the mystery of godliness. It may be said of them as of the Jews, “to this day the veil is upon their heart” (2 Cor. 3:15). Many Christians are no better than baptized heathen! What a shame it is to be without knowledge! “Some have not the knowledge of God; I speak this to your shame” (1 Cor. 15:34). Men think it a shame to be ignorant of their trade - but no shame to be ignorant of God. There is no going to heaven blindfold.

“For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.” (Isaiah 27:11).

Surely ignorance in these days is great. It is one thing not to know, another thing not to be willing to know: “men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19). It is the owl which loves the dark. Sinners are like the Athlantes, a people in Ethiopia, who curse the sun. Wicked men shut their eyes willfully (Matt. 13:15), and God shuts them judicially (Isaiah 6:10).

Are they godly, who, though they have knowledge - yet do not know “as they ought to know”? They do not know God experimentally. How many knowledgeable people are ignorant? They have illumination - but not sanctification. Their knowledge has no powerful influence upon them to make them better. If you set up a hundred torches in a garden they will not make the flowers grow - but the sun is influential. Many are so far from being better for their knowledge, that they are worse: “your knowledge has perverted you” (Isaiah 47:10). The knowledge of most people makes them more cunning in sin; these have little cause to glory in their knowledge. Absalom might boast of the hair of his head - but that hanged him; so these may boast of the knowledge of their head - but it will destroy them!

Are they godly, who, though they have some glimmering of knowledge - yet have no trustful application of Christ? Many in the old world knew there was an ark - but were drowned, because they did not get into it! Knowledge which is not personally applied, will only light a man to hell! It would be better to live a savage - than to die an infidel under the gospel. Christ not believed in is dreadful. Moses' rod, when it was in his hand, did a great deal of good. It wrought miracles; but when it was out of his hand, it became a serpent. So Christ, when laid hold on by the hand of faith, is full of comfort - but not laid hold on, will prove a serpent to bite!

Continued Tomorrow