Harmony in Line With Knowledge

8, 9. (a) What is fundamental to our contributing to harmony in the congregation? (b) How have you gained knowledge about Christ?

⁸ One of Paul’s key points was that Christian harmony is linked to knowledge, particularly that concerning Christ. Paul wrote that Christians should “be harmoniously joined together in love and with a view to all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding, with a view to an accurate knowledge of the sacred secret of God, namely, Christ.” (Colossians 2:2) We have taken in knowledge​—facts—​since we began to study God’s Word. As part of gaining an understanding of how many of these facts fit in God’s purpose, we see the crucial role of Jesus. “Carefully concealed in him are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.”​—Colossians 2:3.

⁹ Is that how you feel about Jesus and his role in God’s purpose? Many in Christendom are quick to mention Jesus, claiming to have accepted him and to have been saved. But do they really know him? Hardly, for most believe the unscriptural Trinity doctrine. Not only do you know the truth in this regard but you likely have quite a broad knowledge of what Jesus said and did. Millions have been helped in this by an informative study using the book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. Yet we need to keep deepening our knowledge of Jesus and his ways.

10. In what way is concealed knowledge available to us?

¹⁰ The statement that “all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge” are “carefully concealed” in Jesus does not mean that such knowledge is beyond our grasp. Rather, it is somewhat like an open mine. We do not have to hunt around a vast area wondering where to start digging. We already know​—real knowledge begins with what the Bible reveals about Jesus Christ. As we appreciate more fully Jesus’ role in the outworking of Jehovah’s purpose, we obtain the treasures of true wisdom and accurate knowledge. So what we need is to dig ever deeper, lifting out more of the gems or precious things available from this source where we already have dug.​—Proverbs 2:1-5.

11. How may we increase our knowledge and wisdom by meditating on Jesus? (Illustrate with Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet, or use other examples.)

¹¹ For example, we may know that Jesus washed the feet of his apostles. (John 13:1-20) Have we, though, meditated on the lesson he was teaching and the attitude he displayed? Doing so, we might draw up a treasure of wisdom that enables us​—yes, moves us—​to alter how we deal with a brother or a sister whose personality has long irritated us. Or when given an assignment that is not quite to our liking, we may respond differently once we get the rich sense of John 13:14, 15. That is how the knowledge and wisdom affect us. What might be the effect on others as we more closely pattern ourselves on increased knowledge of Christ? Probably the flock will ‘be more harmoniously joined together in love.’a