Knowledge = informed actions

Faith + goodness + knowledge + self-control + perseverance + godliness + kindness + love = Effective & Efficient Living!

Two weeks ago we wrote a formula to measure the sufficiency of our source; Faith in the One / the requirements of E² living. We determined that our source is abundantly adequate to meet the requirements.

I mentioned that in credit analysis it is critical to accurately identify the source of repayment. Here’s what I didn’t tell you, that’s not as simple it might sound. The obvious answer is cash. In fact, cash is always the correct answer. But the analysis requires that you gain more knowledge about the source. How does the borrower generate cash? Do they sell a service or a product? If a product, do they make it or purchase it? How long does it take to sell the item and recover their cost? Do they sell on account? If so, how long does it take to collect on the account? The answers to these questions help to a gain a more complete understanding of the borrower’s flow of cash or source.

If we are going to live E² lives, we need to go further than identifying our source, we need a more complete knowledge of our source.

Just a few verses below our key passage, we find this advise from Peter on one way we increase our knowledge.

You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place (corrupt) —until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts (divine). 2 Peter 1:19 NLT Sounds a lot like my dad saying, “you’ve got to pay attention”!

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he is encouraging Timothy to be a good (E²) worker. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true (divine) and to make us realize what is wrong (corrupt) in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong (corrupt) and teaches us to do what is right (divine). God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16 &17. (By the way, Paul’s letters to Timothy are an excellent reminder of the things we seek to participate in and to avoid.)

The reason we must pay close attention to His word, is as the Psalmist wrote, it is the light that shines on our path showing us what is divine and what is corrupt. Without knowledge of His word, we don’t know what to participate in and what to avoid. Knowledge of His word equips us to live (action verb!) E² lives!

One of the other elements of analyzing a loan request is to evaluate management. An important question is, do they have the knowledge or know-how, as my dad would say, to achieve the desired result. This is best measured by actions and decisions previously made.

The entire premise of our E² formula begins with our knowledge of him and ends with our effectiveness in living in our knowledge of him. Our level of knowledge is demonstrated in our actions, which we begin looking at next week.

We must be careful to remember that the reason we add knowledge is to inform our actions. Just as goodness is not possible without faith, knowledge is not productive without goodness.

The end of our key passage reads this way in the NLT, “The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful (E²) you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Thanks for listening

See you next Sunday,

Ronda

A few favorite Proverbs about knowledge

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. (18:15 NLT)

If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge. (19:27 NLT)

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. (9:10 NLT)

The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. (24:5 NLT)