{"id":3890,"date":"2017-03-19T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2017-03-19T14:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3890"},"modified":"2017-01-22T13:54:39","modified_gmt":"2017-01-22T19:54:39","slug":"choose-not-to-be-a-know-it-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3890","title":{"rendered":"Choose Not to Be a Know-It-All"},"content":{"rendered":"

One More Year of Choices\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"The Bible exhorts us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) Such spiritual maturity is expected of a Christian. However, there are many things that might make this growth difficult, such as fears, worries, trials, critics, busyness, stress, and distractions. Yet, people manage to grow in spite of these circumstances, learning to trust Christ more than themselves. However, there is one barrier to growth that is very difficult to overcome. It\u2019s hard to grow if you already know it all!<\/p>\n

The \u201cknow-it-all\u201d despises instruction, because he knows it all. (Proverbs 1:7) The \u201cknow-it-all\u201d won\u2019t listen to counsel because he knows it all. (Proverbs 12:15) The only opinion a \u201cknow-it-all\u201d values is his own because he knows it all. (Proverbs 18:2) The \u201cknow-it-all\u201d has nothing to learn because he already knows it all. So the \u201cknow-it-all\u201d is basically unteachable. That\u2019s a dangerous position to assume when so much of our Christian growth is based on being open to God\u2019s instruction and wisdom.<\/p>\n

God is very big on us being teachable. We have a lot to learn and are blessed when we let God instruct us. (Psalm 94:12) God instructs us through scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16) He has also given church pastors and teachers certain gifts used for \u201cperfecting of the saints.\u201d (Ephesians 4:11-13) This \u201cperfecting of the saints\u201d is just a way of saying as we learn God\u2019s ways we grow in grace, godly knowledge, and spiritual maturity, which equips us to minister or help others. \u201cKnow-it-alls\u201d have a hard time ministering to others because no one wants to be around them.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnow-it-all\u201d Christians are stumbling blocks to themselves and those around them. They tend to be critical, impatient, demanding, discouraging, and divisive instead of constructive, patient, gentle, encouraging, and unifying. They come to church out of obligation, but sermons really don\u2019t apply to them because they know it all. They are more interested in biblical genealogies, archeological findings, and prophecy rather than learning how to enhance their daily walk with God. Since they know it all, they love to solve everyone\u2019s problems, so they talk a lot to share their insights with others and rarely listen. Unfortunately, they really cannot relate to the struggles of others because their biblical knowledge makes them feel superior. They love feeling superior to others.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnow-it-alls\u201d miss the main point of biblical knowledge, which is to point us to Jesus Christ, not to make us feel superior to others. (John 5:39, 40) Christ never put himself above others. He ate with sinners, washed the disciples\u2019 feet, talked to little children, served the sick, and loved the poor. His life teaches us what grace is all about.<\/p>\n

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Consider this\u2026 Those who think they know anything do not know what they need to know. (1 Corinthians 8:2) If we want to grow in grace and knowledge, we begin by having a humble and teachable spirit.<\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n