DCLM Higher Everyday 21 November 2023 — A Lot Remains To Be Learnt – Part 2
Topic: A Lot Remains To Be Learnt – Part 2
Text: Daniel 1:17-21
18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Key Verse: “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness” (Acts 26:24, 25).
Message
Festus accused Paul of too much learning. He also diagnosed that his learning had led to a problem – madness. But which is better, a little learning or too much learning? Let Alexander Pope answer the question.
“A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring; There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.” These are the opening sentences of Alexander Pope’s famous essay titled, “An Essay on Criticism.” It is an apt description of the dangers of half-baked knowledge. A little knowledge is indeed dangerous because it tends to make one proud and conceited. But with more knowledge, comes humility and sobriety. Some people (like Festus) erroneously believe that too much learning will make one mad. But Paul disagreed completely. Truly, it was his great learning of the Old Testament scriptures and the help of the Holy Spirit that enabled him to rightly interpret and apply them in his letters and epistles in the light of the New Testament era. Wise men will still continue learning.
Quote: With more knowledge comes humility
Challenge: little knowledge is dangerous
Prayer for today: O Lord, teach me thy path.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
