Previously in this series, we considered:

1. Those who don’t know what to do and are not interested in knowing what to do.

2. Those who want to succeed but don’t know what to do| Coach Series 2

Today, we consider the third category of people viz: those who know what to do but never apply the knowledge.

Under this category, we can identify three sets of people, viz:

1. Those who are too lazy to apply what they know
2. Those who are unable to transform information into understanding and wisdom.
3. Those who are demotivated by failures, so are unwilling to use what they know. 

In Proverbs 24, verses 3 and 4, the Bible says, “By wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

In the above passage of the scriptures, we see that knowledge is very important because, by it, the rooms of a house are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Simplifying, knowledge is acquired through information; to be knowledgeable is to be informed. So, we can say that information is important. However, information isn’t enough because as the above scripture shows, the rooms are filled through knowledge, but what builds the house is wisdom, and what establishes it is understanding.

Understanding is the comprehension of the information acquired through reading, listening, olfactory perception, observation, cutaneous feelings etc. And wisdom is the application of what you have understood to your life situation; adapting the understanding obtained from the relevant knowledge acquired to solving one’s life’s problems.

Something instructive happened in the Book of Acts 8:26 – 39. The man from Ethiopia was reading the writings of Prophet Isaiah but couldn’t understand them. Yes, he was acquiring important information (knowledge) but hadn’t any understanding of the passages of the scriptures that he was reading. And since he lacked understanding, he couldn’t appropriate the message to his life for salvation and deliverance from sin and satan.

In fact, when Philip met him, his response revealed what the eunuch lacked. “Understandest thou what thou readest?” was a simple but apt question from Philip. And the Ethiopian responded by saying, “How will I understand, except some man will guide me?”  So, he needed a guide to help him understand the information penned down in the Holy Scriptures. Information is very important but it’s not enough.

Philip was invited to sit with him on his chariot to explain those prophetic passages of Prophet Isaiah to him. It was after that explanation that the Ethiopian eunuch understood and wisdom made it only right to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and desired to be baptised.  

Diagnosis: 

i. This group of people usually have access to sources of knowledge, but they are unable to apply what they learn because they lack understanding and wisdom. Such deficiency only leads to little or no results despite the amount of knowledge they possess. Many things could cause this attitude – It could be a lack of appreciation of the value of these resources. 

ii. Sometimes what impedes understanding is pride. This category of people could have mentors and teachers at their disposal, but wouldn’t take advantage of them. 

iii. As we said, there could also be an element of laziness to attempt to understand. 

iv. Sometimes this group of people don’t make an effort to access these resources for reasons bothering on past failures and mishaps. So, they are either ashamed of putting themselves out there or afraid of failing again.

Treatment: 

The solution here is multifaceted.

a.They need a teacher, a guide or a mentor who understands their deficiency, as well as how to transform knowledge into understanding and wisdom

b. Borrowing from what Philip did, break down the information they’ve acquired from several sources into things that could be useful to their lives. 

c. Give them practical steps on how that understanding could lead to results in their lives.

d. Motivate them into action – let the understanding be transformed into actionable decisions. 

e. Hold them accountable for the decisions that they have taken, making sure that time stamps are attached to each step that must be followed.

f. The lazy need to be advised from what is written in the book of Proverbs 6 concerning the ant and the sluggard. There is no food for a lazy man and he that doesn’t work shouldn’t eat, says the Holy Scriptures. If the person is under some demonic influence, a prayer of faith will break the influence. 

g. Some need to be encouraged and inspired through life stories and scriptures to believe in God and in the gifts God has planted in them, including making them see failure from a different perspective.