Don't perish for lack of the right knowledge

Don’t perish for lack of the right knowledge

 

The knowledge baggage

Last week, during a business stopover at one of the hotels in Harare, I bumped into my former ‘O’ Level maths teacher. To my surprise, even though it was my first time to see him in close to 20 years, he recognized me and my past maths exploits. He immediately asked me whether I was, in any way, making use of all that mathematics. That, of course, called for a quick recitation of my resume and an elaborate explanation of what the maths is doing for me; remember the vector equations, the Fourier’s Theorem, or for those that want it simpler - the differentiation and integration sums and their relevance to our day to day working life. Of course, unless you are in the academic or research fields, I bet, the last time you made use of those mind-cracking sums is when you wrote your last exam. Add that knowledge to the Geography, the History, and the rest of all the subjects that you have been exposed to and see how much knowledge baggage you acquired! How much of it is relevant to your mission for life? 

 

Knowledge is not power!

I was raised to believe that knowledge is power and so devoted myself to studying everything under the heaven that I could lay my hands on.  That increased my knowledge base but not necessarily my wisdom and my ability to influence the world that I live in. How many people do you know who know almost any subject you can raise; they are walking encyclopedias, and they have knowledge of all the current and past events; but all that has not changed their social or economic position. Knowledge is not power; but knowledge is potential power. Knowledge only becomes power when it is organized and intelligently directed, through a practical plan of action, towards a definite goal. You must make use of the acquired knowledge. Paul said to the Thessalonians ‘but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; (1 Thessalonians 4 v 11). He exhorted them to study, do their own business and use their own hands. Our normal academic system will equip you with knowledge but will not teach you how to organize and use the knowledge when you have acquired it. You must devote yourself to putting to use the knowledge you have acquired!

 

Which Knowledge?

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest; but it matters what knowledge. There are two kinds of knowledge – general knowledge and specialized knowledge. General knowledge, no matter what quantities or variety you have of it, will limit your capacity to influence. If you aspire to influence the world around you, you have to acquire specialized knowledge in whatever area you want to develop yourself in and invest time in it. Your market value increases by knowing more and doing more in that specialized area. Paul said to Timothy,  ‘study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth’ (2 Timothy 2 v 15). Timothy was developing to be a minister of the gospel, and his success lied in him soaking himself with the knowledge of the word of God. Soak yourself in your chosen area of development. Earl Nightingale said, ‘if you will spend an extra hour each day in your chosen field you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less’. Why should you clutter your mind with general knowledge just for the sake of answering questions or of appearing knowledgeable when you can easily get that information if you require from the systems around us? Be focused and apply yourself in your chosen field. Vince Lombardi said, ‘the quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence in their field of endeavor’.

 

Educate yourself!

Education does not necessarily imply going to school or university. The word ‘education’ is based on the Latin word ‘educo’ which means ‘to educe, to draw out, or to develop from within’. Educate yourself; develop yourself from within. Education is not just about head knowledge but development of the total person from within; it means developing the faculties of your mind and knowing where to get the knowledge you need and how to organize that knowledge into definite plans of action to reach your intended goals. If you need much more specialized knowledge than you have the ability or the inclination to acquire then you can bridge your weakness by surrounding yourself with the people who have that specialized knowledge. You don’t have to know it all!     

 

‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:’ (Hosea 4 v 6) – lack of the right kind of knowledge!

 

Calvary love 

Peter Mbada

 

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For your copy of  'Destined to Succeed: unstoppable and unlimitable'.  Check any online bookstores or contact me directly!

 

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