The Beginning of Knowledge
Pastor Tan Thai · May 17, 2020
Delivered during a pandemic-era high school graduation, this sermon reminds the congregation that knowledge alone is insufficient — the fear of God is the true beginning of wisdom. Drawing on the example of Solomon and the book of Proverbs, the message calls believers to pursue godly wisdom rather than merely worldly knowledge.
The sermon opens by congratulating four high school graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic and poses a foundational question: what is the true purpose of education? The pastor observes that modern schooling focuses exclusively on accumulating knowledge while setting aside morality and faith in God — and often actively undermines the faith of young people. This reality calls parents and the church to be intentional in helping the next generation hold firmly to their faith.
The second section highlights the limits of knowledge alone. Citing 1 Corinthians 8:1, the pastor asserts that knowledge puffs up while love builds up. The humorous Vietnamese folk story of Trạng Quỳnh and the wealthy but ignorant landowner serves as a vivid illustration: a person with great knowledge but lacking morality and wisdom becomes arrogant and even dangerous. The Bible's call is not merely for more knowledge but for wisdom.
The third section examines wisdom through the example of King Solomon in 1 Kings 3, who asked for wisdom rather than wealth or power. The pastor defines wisdom as the skillful, appropriate, and timely application of knowledge for genuine benefit. Proverbs 8 is quoted extensively to show that wisdom is God's common grace extended to all people — calling the simple, the mocker, and the fool alike to seek understanding.
The fourth section distinguishes worldly wisdom from godly wisdom. Through a personal story of meeting a young Indian-American woman on a flight who attributed her love for her mother entirely to brain chemistry, the pastor illustrates that one can be intelligent and kind by worldly standards yet still lack the knowledge of the Holy One. Proverbs 9:10-11 serves as the central text: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of true wisdom. The formula for godly wisdom includes the fear of God combined with knowledge, understanding, prudence, and discretion.
The sermon closes with a practical call: the truly wise person in God must hate evil, reject pride, and live by the standard of Micah 6:8 — to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. Godly wisdom invests not only in this life but primarily in the life to come with God in heaven, making it of far greater value than any worldly knowledge or achievement.