When We Fail To Love With Our Mind

          We often hear sayings and pay no attention to their validity, and, depending on the season we’re in, these sayings may appear valid to us. For instance— ignorance is bliss— in other words, my happiness is contingent upon me not knowing.  But I'm afraid I have to disagree because not knowing something can cause more harm than good. What about the saying—knowledge is power? If we lack knowledge, we are unaware, then what does that say about us? Are we happy for not knowing or happy that we lack power? Unfortunately, we refrain from not knowing things too often to remain comfortable. Paul said: And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

But how could love have knowledge? What is Paul saying? After praying and seeking God’s wisdom on this question, I felt the Lord impressed upon my heart—our entire life is guided by what we love and who we love; love influences our choices. We leave a job if we don’t love it, we marry someone because we love them, we spend most of our time on social media because we love it, and sadly, we engage in sinful acts because we love how it makes us feel.  But Paul’s prayer is that your love (the way you love and the things you love, would become richer and richer with knowledge and discernment. But why should it abound with knowledge and discernment? Because without knowledge and discernment, how do we know if what we love is bad for us? When you and I don't love with our minds, we seek things that are not good for us, we love the wrong person, and we love things that often harm our relationship with God. But once our love is informed, we can approve the things that are excellent—the things that we should love—that we may be sincere and without offense until Christ's return. 

Too often, as Christians, we underestimate the importance of knowledge and reason in our faith. Just as faith is important because we cannot please God without it (Heb 11:6). I believe growing in wisdom is equally essential. Paul says, “Test everything. Hold on to the good” (1Thessalonians 5:21). How can you and I test anything and know what is good if we lack knowledge? Sometimes ignorance can be the cause of our distress or dysfunctional thinking.  Not everything is the devil’s fault. When you and I lack the knowledge needed to live a life pleasing to God, you give the devil a foothold[1] in your life. But growing in the knowledge of God is key to your spiritual growth, for, without it, you will often ponder why you are not seeing God’s hand move in your situation, which then makes you disenchanted and stagnant in your spiritual growth.  But when you grow in the knowledge of God, you understand who God is, and you know who you are in Christ.

Hosea 4:6 tells us, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (NASB). “Note carefully Hosea did not say the people rejected faith. It was far worst than that. They had rejected the only appropriate ground for faith—knowledge.”[2] When we fail to love with our minds, we love blindly and accept things the heart wants, even when the rational mind is saying—let it go!  

It is my prayer that the body of Christ be filled with Godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Above all, I encourage you to seek truth, gain knowledge, love wisely, and pray Eph 1:17 over yourself - That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.”  

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