Those Willing to Be Taught, Learn
This is effectively what Agur, the Ishmaelite who fully admits his ignorance in front of the One who has established all the ends of the earth, is saying, and we would be wise to follow his example. As Christians, we too easily stumble into the trap of believing that
1) We shouldn’t ever sin, fall, doubt, or snap impatiently at someone
2) We should understand all Scripture
and
3) We should have answers to every question, because, after all, if the Holy Spirit lives in us, we must show evidence of that spiritual life, mustn’t we?
But as the apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:7,
“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
And despite having this treasure,
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (8-10)
It is easy to misconstrue that we are good and knowledgeable and sinless and perfect when we are not: we belong to the One Who is. And He Who is is continually working upon us doesn’t get it all done at one time — our moment of conversion, say — but rather, “will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
It’s much easier for Him to work on us when we are humble, meek, aware of our shortcomings and not in denial that they exist. As Christians, we don’t know everything, but unfortunately we feel the obligation to do so. Let us learn from Agur, a wise man of God, who starts from this premise of humility:
“I am the most ignorant of men . . . I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One.”
Only a truly wise man can make an admission like that.