How Does the Godly Man Use His Knowledge? (Part 2)

The Godly Man's Picture

The Characteristics Of A Godly Man - Part 6b
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 2: As we would prove ourselves to be godly, let us labor for this good knowledge of the Lord.

What pains men will take for the achievement of natural knowledge! Many spend years, searching out the knowledge of an earthly trifle. What pains, then, should we take in finding out the knowledge of God in Christ! There must be digging and searching for it, as one would search for a vein of silver:

“If you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:4-5).

This is the best knowledge. It as far surpasses all other knowledge, as the diamond surpasses a stone. No jewel we wear so adorns us as this:

“she is more precious than rubies” (Proverbs 3:15).

“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth. It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. The price of wisdom is beyond rubies.” (Job 28:12-18).

The dark chaos was a fit emblem of an ignorant soul (Gen. 1:2) - but when God lights up the lamp of knowledge in the mind, what a new creation is there! Here the soul sparkles like the sun in its glory.

This knowledge is encouraging. We may say of worldly knowledge, as did Solomon,

“He who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Eccles. 1:18).

To know arts and science is to gather straw - but to know God in Christ is to gather pearl. This knowledge ushers in salvation (1 Tim. 2:4).

Question: But how shall we get this saving knowledge?

Answer: Not by the power of nature. Some speak of how far reason will go if put to good use; but, alas! the plumb line of reason is too short to fathom the deep things of God! A man can no more reach the saving knowledge of God by the power of reason, than a pigmy can reach the top of the pyramids. The light of nature will no more help us to see Christ, than the light of a candle will help us to understand.

“The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: neither can he know them” (1 Cor. 2:14).

What shall we do, then, to know God in a soul-saving manner? I answer, let us implore the help of God's Spirit. Paul never saw himself blind - until a light shone from heaven (Acts 9:3). God must anoint our eyes before we can see! What need did Christ have to bid Laodicea to come to him for eye salve, if she could see before (Rev. 3:18)? Oh, let us beg the Spirit, who is “the Spirit of revelation” (Eph. 1:17). Saving knowledge is not by speculation - but by inspiration,

“…the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding” (Job 32:8).

We may have excellent notions in divinity - but the Holy Spirit must enable us to know them in a spiritual manner. A man may see the figures on a sun-dial - but he cannot tell how the time, unless the sun shines. We may read many truths in the Bible - but we cannot know them savingly until God's Spirit shines upon us:

“…the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).

The Scripture reveals Christ to us - but the Spirit reveals Christ in us (Gal. 1:16). The Spirit makes known that which all the world cannot do, namely, the sense of God's love.

Continued Tomorrow