Knowledge, a tool or weapon?

It is never good to know it all, because when you make a mistake, those around you will never let you forget you knew it all!! Proverbs 12:15
Knowledge can be a helpful tool, or it can be a weapon used against us if we think we are all knowing. I have learned this lesson from a past church I Pastor-ed in the inner city. I allowed myself to get caught in the trap of having to know and how to handle everything.

Not a good place to allow yourself to be, no matter what position you hold. No one has the answer to everything, no one knows it all. This is a hard and humbling lesson to learn, and a good way to forge weapons against yourself. Weapons? Yes weapons, knowledge abused, can make us look just as foolish as it can wise.

Believe me when I say this, people,when they see this trait in you, are just waiting in the wings for you to fall. In fact they are hoping so! That is the weapon that we create for ourselves believe it or not. When we will not listen, when we have an answer for everything, it becomes a weapon. One that injures very deeply. Knowledge abused separates you from people. Knowledge as a tool helps draw them closer.

When you do not always have an answer, when you want to listen more, and speak less. It is a tool, a tool that repairs situations not always having the fix. People are drawn to knowledge when they know it is not being used against them, but is truly wanting to help them. Knowledge listens, waits, analyzes, and then makes the decision to answer or not. This makes it a good tool.

Proverbs 12:15-"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise."

When you know who you are, you never have to prove who you are! Think about it, roll it around in your head use knowledge correctly. A tool for good and not a weapon for hurt, especially for yourself. Knowledge is always good when used to benefit everyone.

You always show how much you know, most times, by how little you say. So be smart. Listen more, speak less and learn. You may not be as knowledgeable as you think. But you will become more knowledgeable than you can ever imagine!  So how is knowledge going for you? Tool or weapon? Helpful or hurtful? Fool or wise?