Seeking knowledge.
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Is it self-righteous for someone to always be reading their Bible? The short answer is no, though there are undoubtedly some who do so out self-righteous motivations. But a truly self-righteous person, on the contrary, believes they can get along fine without the Bible; they don’t think they’re in desperate need of God’s wisdom and guidance; they say, in a sense, “God, I know You spoke a lot of things to us, but I don’t need to listen to You. I’m going to ignore everything You say. I’m quite alright doing my own thing my own way.” Jesus on the other hand says, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) and “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.” The apostle Paul says that the holy scriptures “are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” and “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
Acts 17:11 states, “These [Bereans who were listening to Paul and Silas] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Here, the Bereans were commended because they not only received the word of Paul and Silas, but they also daily searched the scriptures to see if those things were so. They were going after the blessing of the man in Psalm 1: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” If the Bereans were considered nobler than others for being in the Bible daily to see if Paul’s teachings were in there, we shouldn’t be discouraged from digging into the scriptures to see if our own minister’s teachings line up with what God says. We are exhorted to go straight to the source, the Word of God.
“But,” some might say, “aren’t we told not to seek knowledge?” It is true that we are not to seek the wisdom of the world, and that “the Greeks seek after wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22), but that doesn’t mean we are to shy away from godly wisdom and biblical knowledge. We are to seek the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter says emphatically, “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge, temperance…For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8). “However,” another might say, “doesn’t knowledge puff up?” Yes, knowledge can puff up, but it is knowledge that’s wielded by one who has not love which puffs up. It’s not the presence of knowledge that’s the issue, but the absence of humility and love. Consider Paul, in Philippians 1:9-10, when he says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Paul even refers to wisdom and knowledge as treasures - treasures that were previously hid in Christ but now are being revealed to the children of God (Colossians 2:1-3).
On the other hand, Hosea 4:6 declares, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me.” The entire book of Proverbs calls us unto wisdom and knowledge, and says things like, “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?” We see the same admonishment in the New Testament epistles as the apostles were chastising the readers for still being on milk when they should be feasting on meat (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14). We are to grow out of our childlike minds and into maturity and wisdom. “Brethren, be not children in your understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (1 Corinthians 14:20).
Much more can be said about this topic. The Bible is full of God calling us to renew our minds by digging into His Word (i.e. read through Psalm 119). Self-righteous people do not believe they need to be sanctified by the Word of truth (John 17:17). But a person who knows their own sinful nature and the carnality of their mind will rely heavily on God’s Word in order to be renewed for His glory.
As well, a truly converted person will also delight in the Holy Scriptures because in them they see the glory of their Lord and Savior whom they love so much. A person who has no desire for reading the Word has no real desire to see and savor the living God. They have no drive to have Jesus Christ magnified before the eyes of their hearts, no longing to delight their souls in the light of God’s face, and no inkling to rejoice in the marvelous works of God. But the true Christian hungers and thirsts after Christ, and the Spirit leads them into the greatest revelation of Jesus Christ available to us: the Holy Bible.
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John Kastamo
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