As I write this, it is graduation season. In fact, this day is the anniversary of both my daughter Maggie’s  and my high school graduations. A time of year when the accomplishment of gaining knowledge is celebrated, and certainly that is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

Knowledge can inform us, guide us, keep us out of trouble, knowledge can create opportunities, help us remain calm in the midst of chaos, and knowledge—if not kept in check—can knock us completely out of phase.

I’ve heard it said “knowledge is power” and indeed it is. However, another familiar saying rings just as true here: “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Knowledge, like so many other things, is amoral. It can inform wisdom or be used as a weapon. It can be a source of freedom or a tool to manipulate. It can keep us humble or, as the Apostle Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 8:1, it can fuel our pride. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. Knowledge can so easily knock us out of phase.

I have seen this in my own life and have observed it in the lives of others—those in the world and also those in the church.

So how do we keep the temptation to misuse knowledge in check? By filtering it through God’s Word and by continually examining our heart. One of the most familiar of the Biblical Proverbs warns against the misuse of wisdom this way;

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and He will make straight your paths. 
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Another Proverb instructs us to keep or guard our heart.

My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart.
 
For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their flesh.

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.

As with many of the areas of our lives that are able to knock us out of phase, gaining knowledge can begin with a good heart and right motive. But if not kept in check it will so subtly cause us to drift out of phase that we can have a difficult time correcting course. And, it can so blind us we may never even realize we are off course at all.

Let us all be aware of this and pray that knowledge will increase our awareness, fuel our compassion, and motivate us to more genuinely build up those around us through the love of Christ.