Same Knowledge, or Same Opportunity?
Colossians 2:3 - what's "enough" is not universal.
April, 2018
This month's spotlight verse, Colossians 2:3, reminds us that God is willing to provide spiritual knowledge to believers who seek it. It's obvious, however, that not all people have the same level of knowledge. We might even argue that some people haven't had the same chance at spiritual knowledge as others. Why is this—why does God seem to give individual people more or less knowledge, and is that fair?
When it comes to routine, everyday knowledge—or something like intelligence—this is not a very controversial question. Nor is it especially divisive when discussing spiritual wisdom among those who are saved. God simply gives different people unique skills and abilities, and expects them to use what they're given. We can all serve God and live fulfilling lives, despite those differences.
Where this question becomes more emotional is when it comes to knowledge of God, especially when it comes to salvation. It's one thing to speak of diverse wisdom among a group of heaven-bound people. It's another to wonder if God withholds information from unsaved people. Might they have responded, and been saved, if He'd given them "more knowledge?" Here, the key point is to see the difference between God giving everyone "the same" knowledge, as opposed to God giving everyone "enough" knowledge.
The Bible indicates that God's existence, and His nature, are evident in the things we see around us every day (Romans 1:18–20; Psalm 19:1). Scripture also says that those who seek God will find Him (Matthew 7:7–8). In short, this means that God gives each person "enough" knowledge that they are responsible for how they respond. That means all people, in all places and all times. Nobody will be able to stand before God and say "I didn't know," or "you didn't give me enough knowledge." God will always be able to say, "I gave you enough, and you chose not to act on what you did know."
Of course, Scripture does suggest that God restricts knowledge from certain people. In Luke 8:9–10, Jesus says that the use of parables is meant to give wisdom to those who are seeking God, and to obscure it from those who reject Him. Note the key to this lack of wisdom: it's the intent of the listener which causes a lack of knowledge. God is not withholding truth from those who are thirsty for it (John 4:14). He's choosing not to waste truth on those who aren't going to listen, anyway (Matthew 7:6).
A biblical view of how God distributes knowledge hardly proves that God is unfair, or unloving. On the contrary, it becomes a blow to human pride. If God gives all people "enough" knowledge that they should seek Him, what does that say of those who've been gifted with vast amounts of evidence, intelligence, and information? Rejecting God under those circumstances proves how heard-hearted such a person truly is. Those who respond in faith, under an avalanche of evidence, should be humbled that God loved them enough to go that extra mile. Theirs, it seems, was a greater need than it was for others, but the Lord was willing and able to provide.
God does not give the exact same knowledge to everyone, in terms of evidence of Himself, because not everyone needs as much evidence, or knowledge. But God does give everyone "the same" minimum: He provides enough for each person to make the right choice when it comes to belief in Him. That might look different for different people, and the fact that God gives a particular person more knowledge is not necessarily a compliment!
-- Editor
