One
Information simply is. Information is all around you. You use your information-gathering apparatuses to take it in. Your five senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste as filtered through our mind (more on that later). What am I to make of all of this, you might ask. Here’s the thing: who says that we’re supposed to make judgment calls on what we see and sense? It seems that not only is it necessary to discern (a word meaning to do that very thing: take in and know) the whats and whys of information, but it’s also something we do automatically. Without having to be told. We take in information and depending on our level of teachability and humility, we decide what we’re gonna do with it. Okay.
Two
Knowledge, in my opinion, is something more than information. Knowledge is one step above information. Whereas information can simply be without human influence or interaction, knowledge is information that we (as humans with minds) have taken in and accumulated and—hopefully—use to our advantage. And this is necessary. We’re not mindless, nor are we meant to conduct ourselves in that manner. When Paul says that “knowledge puffs up (makes proud), but love edifies” (1 Corninthians 8:1), does that contradict Peter’s exhortation to “add to your faith…knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5)? No. Because it all depends on what you’re doing with that information, with that knowledge. It’s a matter of humility and teachability—or meekness as it’s translated in Ephesians (4:2).
It’s also a matter of how much we’re willing to bring to God the input, the information we receive. Solomon says to “acknowledge God in all [our] ways” (Proverbs 3:5-6). This is something I’m learning more and more, every day, to do. God help me. God help you.
Three
And here’s where time comes in (thanks to my friend Andy for helping work out the fine points of these (not-so-simple) topics): Wisdom. Wisdom includes information, certainly. And wisdom is ten-thousand times more important than knowledge. It’s almost like wisdom is to knowledge what knowledge is to information. Just as the assimilation of information creates knowledge, wisdom—if I may—takes from above to deal properly with that knowledge. Does this make sense? Albert Einstein was incredibly knowledgeable regarding the physical world as well as the world of physics. But he was extraordinarily inept when it came to familial interactions. And in no way am I making a judgment call because, let’s face it, some family members aren’t worth interacting with. But I digress. Solomon, again in Proverbs (1:7), says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” I don’t think this is contradicting my previous thoughts because wisdom, while utilizing information as well as knowledge in its outlook, does not necessarily require both. And it certainly doesn’t arise out of either because it’s something that God gives to you. Over time. James says (1:5), “If any of you lack wisdom, let him (or her) ask of God, who gives to all men (and women) liberally, and upbraideth (reprimands) not; and it shall be given [them].” You get the idea.
Four
Love. Love is the fourth. Love includes all but is directed toward God. Love supersedes all because that’s the ultimate aim of all information, all knowledge, and all wisdom. Each one on its own may be (even wisdom, perhaps) devoid of the kind of love that Jesus showed and exemplified. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians (2:3) says that in Jesus (who is love) “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.
One Thought at a Time 