The Tree of Knowledge by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 29, 1906

The Tree of Knowledge

By L. A. S.

L. A. S.

Eve had a fatal curiosity about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which led her to eat of its forbidden fruit, and thus obtain a certain sort of knowledge, which would much better not have been acquired. It was only knowledge that she obtained, not wisdom. It is always proper to seek for wisdom, and the Creator has never prohibited this; but mere knowledge is a very different thing, and there is much mere knowledge of which it is the part of wisdom to remain in ignorance.

It seems a surprising thing that parents are often so ready to lead their children to the tree of knowledge and give them its fruit to eat, and even to advocate this course as being for their good. Do they imagine that what worked harm to Adam and Eve can work good to their descendants of this degenerate age? What good did it do Adam and Eve to have their eyes opened and to know that they were naked? Even if God had permitted them to remain in Eden, it would never after that have been the same place to them that it was before.

An essential feature of the paradise which surrounds a happy childhood is ignorance. The child does not know that all persons are not good, and honest, and truthful; it does not know that a large proportion of the human race are not to be trusted; it does not know that the world is full of crime and suffering. It does not know enough about the nature of this life to see any of those things which darken the future to those of adult years. Hence it has no cares, no worries. And how much better off it is for not knowing these things! Its little paradise rests largely upon ignorance, yet it is no less real.

But the child, like Eve, has a fatal curiosity about the tree of knowledge. This, strangely enough, is often the excuse given by parents for letting him eat of its fruit. Was any child ever cured of unwise curiosity by this course? Is it not stimulated rather than satisfied? Curiosity has a proper place, of course, even a necessary place, in the child's mental equipment; but this does not justify giving it every kind of knowledge indiscriminately, any more than a child's hunger justifies giving it any sort of food it may fancy it wants.

Of that knowledge not suited to childhood the child can understand but little; and while it confers no benefit on the child, it opens a new avenue for curiosity and imagination to work much mischief. Wisdom is power, but mere knowledge is not power. Mere knowledge builds no fortification against evil. 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.'

Parents, guardians of children, beware of the tree of knowledge. Beware lest you spoil the paradise about your little ones by giving them of its fruit. Keep about them the safeguard of their ignorance, their innocence. Instead of leading them to the tree of knowledge, lead them to wisdom. Lead them to the One 'in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' This will be a safe course, always. Let them receive their knowledge through Christ. He knows what to say to little children. This will not spoil their paradise, and it will be the most effectual safeguard against all evil.