There is gold and a multitude of jewels
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. – Proverbs 20:15
Part of what makes jewelry valuable is that it’s uncommon, even rare. But rarer than the most expensive gems are “knowledgeable lips.” That is, someone who knows what he’s talking about and can speak on that clearly. We could add “wisely,” because sometimes it’s not the time to speak even about things you know.
Knowing things.
Relaying that knowledge at the right time.
Owen and Kloud – that’s the challenge to you on your wedding day: throughout your marriage learn more and more about different stuff. And get better at expressing, describing what it is you’ve learned.
Know what you’re talking about. Use the precisely right word. Incorporate interesting language. Repeat.
Practice that…and it’ll likely be a good marriage, good life.
God set up the world this way: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; it is the glory of kings to search them out.
God has hidden things so that naturally we don’t know. But we’re not supposed to accept that state of things – we’re supposed to discover things. No, that’s too weak: finding out stuff, growing in knowledge is our glory. Unearthing data and lore and know-how is what we’re for!
As the world gets more therapeutic and obsessed with what’s going on inside ourselves, it gets dumber and unhappier. So, don’t spend much time examining yourself, taking the temperature of your soul and outlook. No, look outward to grow in knowledge. Be bored by your feelings and enamored of foxes or foxglove or the foxtrot or foxfire – the phosphorescent light emitted by certain fungi on decaying timber. Looking out is better than looking in and protects you from all manner of slippery shenanigans.
Owen and Kloud, what are some specific things you should come to know?
Know your gifts. And here I don’t mean by gifts, your talents, but more generally: know…keep up with recording the many gifts God keeps sending your way. Start today, it’s easy. Look around at your parents, grandparents, siblings, life-long friends, coaches, teachers, the church, and take stock. Notice what God has done for you through just these gifts. And suspect that God will keep sending such gifts – a lot of them the same – day after day. Look at the data. Take note.
Know your place. I don’t want you to hear that phrase in its typical condescending way. I mean it more literally. Know about your street. Your town. Its people, present and past. Its history. The people of God are recorders. Our sacred book is full of history and genealogies. Bit by bit, become historians of where you are. Learn your neighbors’ names. Their kids names.
Know your craft. Owen, get better at being a farrier. Learn the history of farriers. Have there been Farrier Masters throughout the years? What are their names? What about the history of dog training? What are the various techniques? Why are some better than others?
Is Christ just a religious Savior or is he too the Creator of dogs and the psychology of dogs? Then get to learning about dog psychology… or explain with economy why ‘dog psychology’ is an unfortunate phrase!
Kloud, you’re a photographer. So much to learn, so many masters to learn from. Perfect your craft. And we’re hoping that eventually God blesses you with children and that your chief vocation (for at least a few years) becomes a keeper of home. And isn’t there so much to learn in this realm? Matters of education, soul development, medical lore, hosting prowess, fashion, aesthetics, creating a culture that’s orderly and warm at the same time…so many practicalities involved. So much ground to cover, things to learn. One day at a time…
Owen, you’re specifically commanded by the Spirit to live with your wife in an understanding way. You are not to dwell with Kloud thoughtlessly, selfishly, carelessly, instinctively, crassly, bluntly, without perspective, without sensitivity, without ideas. But you are to know Kloud, labor to understand her, discover everything you can (though much will remain a mystery), interpret her as who she is in Christ, reckon her as a co-heir of the grace of life. If you take her for granted, if you become bored by her, if you become frustrated by her depths – shame on you…you’ll be the dullard.
Did you know that the common expression in the Hebrew Bible for sexual union is that the husband knows his wife? Physical exploration. Exploration of the soul. Today God is presenting you with a lifelong expedition into a mysterious far country – don’t stop taking the journey.
Finally, brother and sister – grow in the knowledge of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here’s the thing about this – I’ve just mentioned know your gifts, your place, your craft, your wife. And now this know your Lord and Savior seems like just the end of a series. But here’s the thing: you’ll come to know Jesus Christ in knowing your gifts, place etc. When you look around the room and dig up the past and learn techniques… you’ll simultaneously be uncovering the works and judgments of the world’s Lord. And here’s the other thing: when you turn directly to Jesus Christ to discover why he’s awesome and in which ways he’s good…you’ll return to your place and your people ready to plunge into a deeper knowledge of them and a deeper communion with them.
So, growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ isn’t the end of a series of things to know, but the heart of all knowledge. Kloud and Owen, become better theologians, push yourselves to understand the Scripture more exactly, fill your brain with facts about Christ and then work to make connections between different facts. Get to know his Church, its history and membership And then more and more find out the better way to express who he is. I’ll say again: Christ is the heart of all knowledge.
There is gold and a multitude of jewels
but knowledgeable lips [especially that has the Lord Jesus at the heart] are a rare treasure.