Omniscience and Us

This simple yet profound graphic illustrates a theological and relational truth: only God is omniscient. He knows all things, fully and instantly, without effort or error. Though this doctrinal truth is apparent to all, the implications and applications are not. The large circle labeled “Omniscience” represents the exhaustive knowledge of God. In contrast, the tiny dot within the circle represents our human knowledge—what we actually know.

This visual humbles us. It reminds us that our understanding is always partial, and often flawed. Because of this, we must default to humility, and humility listens, learns, inquires, and waits before assuming. Pride assumes it already knows. Wisdom acknowledges that there is always more to the story.

Practical Implications of Limited Knowledge

Be a Question-Asker, Not a Statement-Maker

When we approach others with definitive declarations—“You meant this,” “You did that,” “I know what happened”—we step into a place of prideful presumption. We behave as though we occupy the omniscient position of God.

But when we ask, “Help me understand,” “What happened from your perspective?” or “Can you clarify?” we honor the complexity of situations and the imago Dei in the other person. We imitate the wisdom of Christ, who asked many questions—not because He needed answers, but because His questions exposed hearts and opened paths for transformation.

Illustration #1: The Misread Text Message

Imagine receiving a short text from a friend that seems cold and abrupt. A statement-maker might say, “You’re obviously mad at me.” A question-asker might respond, “Hey, is everything okay? Your message seemed a little off; just checking in.” The first approach asserts omniscience. The second seeks understanding.

Illustration #2: The Offhand Comment

At church, someone makes a vague remark during a group discussion that seems dismissive of your input. The statement-maker thinks, “They’re always undermining me.” But the question-asker quietly inquires later, “Hey, when you said that earlier, I wasn’t sure what you meant; can we talk about it?” A healthy conversation follows, revealing that it was a misunderstanding, not malice.

Illustration #3: Gossip and the Benefit of the Doubt

You hear that someone at work may have spoken critically about you. Instead of stewing or firing back, the humble learner asks: “I heard something and just wanted to ask rather than assume; can we talk?” Sometimes what we think we heard or understood is missing the entire context.

Pro Tip: Moving from Limited Understanding by Stepping into Omniscience

Growth, learning, and maturing our understanding doesn’t happen by accident. Scrolling social media or binge-watching Netflix will not stretch the mind. These are passive inputs that bypass reflection and meditation. But when we read slowly, ask questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue, we stir the soul. Proverbs 18:2 warns us, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

Leisure reading, even non-theological, can broaden perspective and teach us how to communicate better, relate more richly, and think more clearly. Conversations with others—asking about their lives, learning from their experiences, valuing their story—these are not only relational acts of love but also wise ways to pursue growth.

Case Study: Mable – The Talker Who Didn’t Listen

Background: Mable is known for being talkative, energetic, and opinionated. In group discussions, she usually speaks first and longest. Her intentions aren’t malicious; she simply believes she’s being helpful and engaged. But she rarely asks questions and seldom listens with patience.

Incident: In a women’s Bible study, a newcomer named Mildred shared a difficult story about a recent personal offense. Mable immediately jumped in: “Well, you shouldn’t have let that happen. You need stronger boundaries. That’s what I’d do.” Mildred shut down, visibly upset, and didn’t return the next week.

What Went Wrong: Mable assumed she had enough information to offer counsel. She didn’t ask any clarifying questions, didn’t affirm Mildred’s courage to share, and didn’t give time to understand the depth of what was shared. Her response was a statement from her limited dot of knowledge, not from a posture that acknowledges the vastness of what she didn’t know.

How She Should Have Responded: Mable could have said, “Mildred, thank you for sharing something so hard. Would you be open to telling me more? I want to understand better before saying anything.” That would’ve created space for a soul-to-soul connection, reflecting humility and love.

The Result: After a gentle rebuke from a mature sister in the group, Mable was convicted. She began practicing James 1:19—“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” She started asking at least three questions before offering any advice and committed to waiting before responding.

Growth Path: Mable began reading an article from Life Over Coffee titled “Be Careful When Giving Advice: The Careful Path to Restoring Others.” It helped her build a framework for wise engagement, rooted in God’s omniscience and her need to be a listener.

This image reminds us all: You don’t know what you don’t know. So ask. Engage. Read. Reflect. Because the wise man doesn’t pretend to be God—he lives in light of his limitations and invites others in.

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Peace,
Rick