My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
– Ecclesiastes 12:12
Is too much information a problem? Can too much study actually bring weariness? There is an important distinction to establish here. It is the one between God and His living Word and the world and its destruction. We know the value of Bible study and pondering upon the words and principles of our Lord. But do we understand the dangers of information overload when it’s based in corruptible mankind?
Information can, should and many times bring knowledge. Unlike ever before on this earth, we are bombarded with an unprecedented amount of information and because of technology, it is readily available at our fingertips. However, a dilemma has also evolved alongside our age of information. Somewhere along the way, the line between factual information and opinion has been blurred almost to the point of obscurity. The problem with so much information at our fingertips is the subjective nature of that information. Anyone with the smallest amount of tech savvy can quite easily disseminate information. Within seconds, through social media and other platforms, it is available throughout the globe. To an even greater degree, A.I. will now efficiently package all this information into a nice little pill that’s definitely too easy to swallow. We would have to be naive to think every piece of information we are exposed to on a daily basis is factual and therefore trustworthy, but I fear that is exactly the case.
We know that knowledge is different from wisdom. But where does false knowledge fit into the process? If we understand knowledge as being the accumulation of facts, truths and information, then wisdom is the effect that comes through the application of this knowledge. For example, I can be taught that a hot stove is dangerous to touch. That knowledge is factual, true and informative. However, it is when I actually touch the stove that wisdom comes through a painful yet memorable experience. Knowledge is easily debated or forgotten, but because wisdom is tied to a personal experience, the effect is much deeper. The biggest difference is seen in someone who has a knowledge of Christ versus someone who has a relationship, an experience with Christ.
The danger we live in with all our technologically advanced information options is the lack of moving from knowledge to wisdom. Bad or false knowledge is exposed for what it is when we go through the application process. Because there is so much information out there, much of which can contradict itself, we are able to accept what fits our desires way too easily. We have lost the initiative to test the information overload we are bombarded with. Rather, we simply scroll to the next tidbit. In doing so, we lose the opportunity to gain wisdom, either by confirming or denying that information. This is especially dangerous when it comes to the myriad of Bible experts out there purveying their opinions and disguising it as knowledge. Our cyber-overloaded world inundates us with so much information and when we simply accept it all, we are unable to properly process it.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 instructs us to test everything, to hold fast to what is good. Proverbs 9:10 says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
It’s time to slow down, to take time to process all the information, to personally seek the Lord and experience His wisdom and yes, touch the stove if necessary.
Jason Metz, lead Pastor
