The Good Ignorance II

Ignore topics that drain your attention. Unfollow people that drain your energy. Abandon projects that drain your time. Do not keep up with it all. The more selectively ignorant you become, the more broadly knowledgeable you can be.

-James Clear

This idea of 'Selective ignorance' as stated by James Clear is what we earlier discussed and termed 'Good-ignorance' or 'Knowledge-induced-ignorance' or Wisdom-motivated-ignorance'.

There are lessons to be learnt from this Good-Ignorance-Policy of God.

#Lesson 1: God did not want man to know the difference between good and evil - He wanted man to only know God. He wanted man to know his specific and definite will. No need to experience both good and evil. No room for confusion or in-betweeners. God generally does not give options when he gives instructions - He is very definite and specific. He did not tell Noah to either build or not build the ark. And when he specifically told him to build, he gave him dimensions; He is very specific!. He did not tell Moses to go to Egypt or not to go. And even if he would give options they would typically lead to the same result. It’s good to also know that God is not democratic but theocratic. Sometimes options are a sign of ignorance or incomplete knowledge but God is not lacking in anything. 

#Lesson 2: No one is good and nothing is good except God. Because it is good does not mean it is Godly. It was a good thing to want to be like God but it was not Godly to eat the fruit out of disobedience. So God was more concerned about making Adam perfect rather than making him good. That was why Jesus said in Mtt 5:48,

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

By following the instructions of God strictly, Adam was on his way to perfection - this is God's intention. Perfection over being good.

#Lesson 3: God wants me to know only want He approves for me to know. There is a plethora of great knowledge out there but only that which is approved from the lens of God is permitted for a Christian's consumption. There are many places and experiences on earth but only that which God deems fit should we encounter. For instance, there are many songs that are cool, but only the ones God approves will I listen to. Many great stories out there about the great and fun works of Wizardry and Witchcraft, does God approve them for my consumption? I personally heard God disapprove the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings series for my personal consumption. They are good books but not Godly - so out of my league. Similarly, we must align with only what God approves for us to know.

#Lesson 4:There is a deep desire in man to pursue knowledge. The intentions for the pursuit of knowledge is important and must be God-approved. Adam/Eve wanted to be what God wanted them to be at the detriment of offending Him. What were they thinking? That if they gained wisdom they would then show off to God? The sales pitch given by the Serpent was crafted in such a way as though by them gaining knowledge they would impress or show-off to God. There is no knowledge we'll gain that will impress God - therefore our pursuit of knowledge must be in line with his will. 

#Lesson 5: A key lesson about God and knowledge is that God gives certain knowledge for a reason. Imagine the case of the dreams of both Nebuchadnezzar and Pharoah. God gave the dreams but the interpretation and knowledge about what to do was specially wrapped and gifted to Joseph -  for good reason. Men God used got the necessary knowledge because there was an assignment at hand. So God desired the 'Good-ignorance' of the contents of the tree of Good and evil because humanity did not need the knowledge and even if they would eventually gain it, it must be on God's terms.

In our walk with Jesus there will be sacrifices, hard-core desires we may need to forfeit, restrictions set aside by the Holy Spirit to chisel and fine-tune us for His use and to set us on the right path. These sacrifices will be necessary for us to accomplish what God intends for our lives.

May we be ignorant to the things God does not desire for us but be abundantly knowledgeable in what he desires us to know.

Shalom!