WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 2, 2022
TOPIC: LABOUR UNDER CORRECT KNOWLEDGE
BY T. O. BANSO
“The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!” (Ecclesiastes 10:15 New King James Version).
I don’t know who first used the backronym LUCK – Labour /labouring Under Correct Knowledge. But it is commonly used in business circles to emphasize doing the right thing rather than depending on luck i.e. succeeding by chance rather than through one’s efforts.
A lot of people desire success in life but they don’t strive towards acquiring the right knowledge that will make this possible. Some desire a position – political, business, religious, or social – but they’re not preparing to make a success of it when or if they do get it. Getting into office is important but making a success of it is more important.
What office, position, employment, or appointment do you desire? Do you just desire it only for the sake of it or are you preparing yourself for success? Do you depend on luck alone for success you’ve not prepared for or you’re working hard to succeed? Someone said, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” It’s only an unserious person who will depend solely on luck to succeed. Unfortunately, some people think that they can succeed in life through gambling!
The luck you really need is LUCK – Labouring Under Correct Knowledge. Labour is not the only thing needed for success in life but I believe that in any equation of success labour or diligence is a constant. “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8 New King James Version).
But you must pay attention to the way you labour. You must not labour like a fool and hope you’ll succeed; you must labour under correct knowledge. Ecclesiastes 10:15 says, “The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!” (New King James Version). The people this scripture refers to are not guilty of laziness but of ignorance. They didn’t labour under correct knowledge. The New International Version puts the scripture this way: “A fool’s work wearies him; he does not know the way to town.” You can’t be doing the wrong things and expect the right outcomes. You must do the right things.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 22:15a “But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!” (New Living Translation). That’s a thought-provoking statement. That was part of what God said to an evil king, Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, a good king (verse 18).
In every facet of life, occupying a great office or position doesn’t automatically make the occupant a great success. Countries have suffered from incompetent leaders who promised so much but couldn’t deliver because they lacked the correct knowledge to solve the problems their countries are facing. You probably know one country like that where the leader has so disappointed a majority of the citizens that they can’t wait for him to leave office.
People don’t pass examinations by only sweating in the exam hall! They also don’t pass because they write the most number of sheets of paper. They could be writing the most foolish answers! What makes someone excel is writing the correct answers. People could say they are trying their best to do something but that will amount to nothing if they are not labouring under correct knowledge. Their efforts will be in vain unless they deploy their energy to do the right thing.
Don’t wallow in ignorance and think that success will fall on your lap. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Empower yourself with the correct knowledge needed for success. Proverbs 15:14 says, “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness” (New King James Version). The Good News Translation says it like this: “Intelligent people want to learn, but stupid people are satisfied with ignorance.”
Don’t be a fool. The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge (Proverbs 18:15). Labour Under Correct Knowledge. Proverbs 19:2 says it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge. Wise people treasure knowledge (Proverbs 10:14). But not just knowledge but the correct knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 says if the axe is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success. However, someone who is not labouring under correct knowledge could assume that spending time sharpening a dull axe is a waste of time! He could be in a hurry to get the job but will end up getting tired in no time.
Whatever is your calling, make sure you acquire the correct knowledge you need to excel. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (New King James Version). As a Christian, learn from Jesus through His Word and the Holy Spirit. God said in Hosea 4:6a that His people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Learn also from God’s servants. Paul told the Philippians that they should do the things they had learnt, received, heard, and seen in him (Philippians 4:9a).
Also, educate yourself continually in your area of endeavour so that you won’t be busy doing the wrong things. Learn from the right people. This may mean accessing their resources and learning from them remotely or learning from them physically.
Sweating does not guarantee success. Find out what is needed to succeed and do it. Prepare for the success you desire; work towards it. Don’t labour in ignorance; labour under correct knowledge, not incorrect knowledge. Proverbs 24:3-4 says “A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables” (New Living Translation). Obviously, knowledge there refers to correct knowledge.
In Matthew 22, when the Sadducees, who said there was no resurrection, asked Jesus a question that related to the resurrection, He answered, “Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power!” (Verse 29 The Living Bible). Ignorance will cause one to err. It will lead to a waste of resources, especially time. But correct knowledge will help one to maximize resources and succeed. Sometimes, a man labouring under incorrect knowledge could harm himself and others! In your profession or work, labour under correct knowledge. No price is too much to pay to acquire the correct knowledge that will help you to succeed. Whatever it will cost you, acquire it. Ignorance will cost you much more.
Before Paul’s conversion, he laboured under incorrect knowledge. In Acts 22:4, Paul talked about how he persecuted the followers of “this Way” (Christians) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison. Also in Acts 26:11, he said he punished the believers often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; in his anger against them, he persecuted them and pursued them even to foreign cities. Furthermore, in Galatians 1:13, he referred to his former conduct in Judaism and how he persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. Moreover, in 1 Corinthians 15:9, he said that he was the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church of God.
But while Paul did all this, he was labouring under incorrect knowledge. He thought he was doing the right thing but he was wrong. He acted ignorantly. In 1 Timothy 1:13, he said that although he was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man he obtained mercy because he acted in ignorance and unbelief. Paul wasted all his time and energy on the wrong cause. Labour under correct knowledge.
Talking about his ministry after becoming an apostle, Paul said, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 New King James Version). He didn’t want to run and be disqualified, which would have amounted to running in vain.
Also in Galatians 2:2, Paul said when he went to Jerusalem by revelation, he set before the leaders privately the gospel that he preached among the Gentiles, for fear that he was running or had run his race in vain. Those who labour under incorrect knowledge labour in vain. Such was the labour of the Jews whom Paul described as having a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2).
As a minister of the gospel, a professional, or whatever you are, labour under correct knowledge. This is the LUCK you need to succeed; don’t depend on luck.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I shall not labour in ignorance or under incorrect knowledge; I shall labour under correct knowledge in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, help me to acquire the knowledge that I need to succeed in ministry, business, or other life endeavours. Father, deliver those who are labouring under incorrect knowledge; let them see their error and change.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
 
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
  
  
  
  
