When Knowledge Hurts 痛苦的真相

[Dexu Xia]

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.  Ecclesiastes 1:18

Zach Elder and his friends pulled up to shore after a twenty-five-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. The man who came to retrieve their rafts told them about the COVID-19 virus. They thought he was joking. But as they left the canyon their phones pinged with their parents’ urgent messages. Zach and his friends were stunned. They wished they could return to the river and escape what they now knew.

In a fallen world, knowledge often brings pain. The wise Teacher of Ecclesiastes observed, “With much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (1:18). Who hasn’t envied a child’s blissful ignorance? She doesn’t yet know about racism, violence, and cancer. Weren’t we happier before we grew up and discerned our own weaknesses and vices? Before we learned our family’s secrets—why our uncle drinks heavily or what caused our parents’ divorce?

The pain from knowledge can’t be wished away. Once we know, it’s no use pretending we don’t. But there’s a higher knowledge that empowers us to endure, even thrive. Jesus is the Word of God, the light that shines in our darkness (John 1:1–5). He “has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Your pain is your reason to run to Jesus. He knows you and cares for you.

What’s something you wished you didn’t know? Tell Jesus about it. Then leave it with Him. Whenever it troubles you, take it to Jesus again.

Jesus, I don’t enjoy pain, but if it drives me to You, it’s worth it.

因为多有智慧，就多有愁烦；加增知识的，就加增忧伤。—传道书1章18节

在新冠疫情刚开始时，克礼和朋友们在大峡谷结束了为期25天的泛舟之旅，把船停靠岸边。前来取船筏的人告诉他们有关新冠病毒的消息时，他们以为对方是在开玩笑。但在离开大峡谷的途中，他们的手机接连作响，各自收到父母的紧急信息。这令他们大为震惊。他们真希望能再回到河边，逃离残酷的现实。

在一个堕落的世界，知道得越多往往就越痛苦。撰写传道书的智者说：“多有智慧，就多有愁烦；加增知识的，就加增忧伤”（1章18节）。有谁不羡慕孩童能享受单纯无知的幸福？他们还不懂什么是种族歧视、暴力和癌症。在我们长大并开始认识到自己的弱点和恶习之前、在我们发现家族的秘密之前（叔叔酗酒的真相或导致父母离婚的原因），我们不是活得更快乐吗？

人们无法摆脱知识所带来的痛苦。一旦我们知道些什么，便无法假装不知道。但有一种至高的知识，使我们能够坚忍，甚至能成长茁壮。耶稣是上帝的道，祂也是真光，能照亮我们的黑暗（约翰福音1章1-5节），“上帝又使祂成为我们的智慧、公义、圣洁、救赎”（哥林多前书1章30节）。你的痛苦正是使你奔向耶稣的缘由，因祂了解你，关心你。

有哪件事是你不希望知道真相的？告诉耶稣，把这事交给祂。每当这又使你心烦意乱时，就再次求告耶稣。

耶稣啊，我不喜欢受苦，但如果痛苦能使我亲近祢，那么受苦就是值得的。