[250 words]
Benjamin Franklin once said “Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” There is no question that God places a high value on knowledge and particularly knowledge of His word. Hosea recorded the words of God when He wrote “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priests for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).
It has never been acceptable for God’s people to reject the words of God. We now live in a time where the Bible is very easily accessible. One can purchase a copy of the Holy Scriptures for less than the price of a happy meal. Yet, it’s obvious that many have rejected the Bible. Sadly, there are even members of His church who go long periods of time without examining the Scriptures and many who have never read it.
We, as Christians, should be the most knowledgeable people when it comes to the Bible. There is no excuse for us to be ignorant of God’s word. The only reason we can be ignorant of God’s precepts today is if we simply are unwilling to learn, and that is a great shame. Let it never be said of those who are children of God that we have rejected knowledge. Let it never be that we, like the children of Israel, be destroyed for a lack of knowledge.
Garrett Bookout
Northwest church of Christ
Lawton, OK