Brilliant displays of intellect are not all that is desirable or honourable in human nature.
There is a moral perfection which elevates us closer to God - the perfection of all perfection. In dazzling pictures - in ingenious sophisms - in finely wrought [applied] descriptions - in novel and striking thoughts, there is much to interest and captivate the mind - but it is all blinding and warping [distorting] to the intellect. (...)
Brilliant exhibitions of talents are not always evidence of a love for learning, nor an innate delight in the lofty [elevated] and ennobling pleasures of intellect. More frequently they are the offsprings of vanity, and love of praise. Too many read and analise and treasure up, merely as the actor does his part and never give one thought to usefulness or [to] the necessary and serious duties of life. The perfect man or woman is one who can command the heart, and who can rightly understand the relative duties of life - who can act from motives entirely free from vanity [self-love, conceitedness, pride]- who can know when it is useful to speak and when to be silent.
Timothy Arthur
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1 Comments :
I had to spoil the quote a bit by putting on the meaning of certain words even though the general meaning would still be understood without it.
I thought I would like the quote on its own and comment here instead.
Though the context of this quote might be understood as criticising the pursuit of knowledge as an end (which really should be criticised :) ; it is important to understand that the main purpose is to call our attentions (specially as Christians) to the actual duties of this life. They do not merely consist of increasing in knowledge but in applying it. Not only in understanding and accepting hard truths, but bringing the outward and inward man subject to those truths.
The Bible is full of reference to deeds and conduct not only to words. If one has not understood how each of the inspire words of the Bible relates to his personal life, it has not profited from "knowing the truth".
Anyways to sum up my "considerations", if truth or knowledge does not leads us to live a more godly life, if it doesn't make us comprehend more of the life to come and desire to live such life, we have reason to fear that we are actually destituted of truth (1 ti 6:5).
For more considerations refer to 1 Tim 6 (still in Timothy)
May the LORD enable us not only to understand truth but to, by faith live a life of truthfulness.
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God bless!!