HOW TO OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE.
By H. W. Reed
THE Biblical statement that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge is true in the physical as well as in the spiritual sense. It is true temporally, and it is true eternally. If we wish to learn the first principles of knowledge, where shall we find them? If we wish to start in the path of knowledge, what is the first step? Here is the answer: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1 : 7); and “the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Prov. 9 : 10. Then let him who would have knowledge, who would start in the way of understanding, fear God. If a man would begin the acquisition of knowledge aright; if he would have the best use of his powers, both mental and physical; if he would read nature as it should be read, and would study the arts and sciences as they should be studied; and most of all, if he would have that knowledge that saves from sin, and would know Him whom to know is life eternal, let him fear God, and the first step will have been taken. And how shall he continue in this way? The answer is similar: “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom.” Prov. 15 : 33. But since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and since it is the instruction of wisdom, then what shall be our conclusion?—“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28 : 28. Then the man of knowledge and wisdom is the God-fearing man. God says that his people perish for lack of knowledge; and as we have found knowledge, or wisdom, to consist in fearing God, we conclude that they perish because they do not fear God.