Where Your Information Should Come From

Drawing upon your memories as a young child, you probably have a general recollection of the food pyramid (something like this) that displayed how a healthy and balanced diet should look like. As you might recall, the base of the pyramid showed the most important types of food we should consume and the top of the pyramid showed the types of food we should only consume sparingly.

If you identify as a Christian, a similar pyramid should exist in your life of the various sources we get our information from and the frequencies in which we should consume it. An idea of what this pyramid should look like is found in Brett McCracken's book The Wisdom Pyramid that describes which sources we should prioritize to increase in wisdom.

The following pyramid is my personal twist on McCracken's pyramid and I think you'll find both to be useful blueprints to understand where your information should come from.

Level One: The Bible

If the base level is the most important level, then God's Word needs to be the foundation. Regarding where we get our information from, our "daily bread" is the most prominent and trusted form of spiritual nourishment. Psalm 119 completely and descriptively reminds us that Scripture is the most significant resource we have. It is the longest chapter, in the longest book, in the entire Bible. In almost every one of its 176 verses, the importance of the Word of God is mentioned - there's something to be said for that.

As we will soon see in other levels of the pyramid, there are a variety of terrific sources such as books, online articles and even social media that can provide ample amounts of wisdom. But nothing beats the purest form of His breath on a page: Scripture itself.

Level Two: Community

Many rich blessings flow out of a healthy community with other believers. Fellowship amongst Christians is something that has been going on a few thousand years now, so it mustn't be something we neglect. Surrounding yourself with your Christian brothers and sisters gives you the chance to be around people at different stages of their faith journey—and to bear their burdens alongside them. This is great news, because everyone has something to teach and to learn.

Community is something every human longs for; Christian and non-Christian alike. Singing, serving, and praying with members of your local church fills this void and is a wonderful place to increase in wisdom.

Level Three: Nature and Beauty

The evidence of God is overwhelming. Firstly, in the pinnacle of His creation: humans. Secondly, in the nature and beauty of our temporal environment: earth. Why is it that we are in complete awe and wonder when we stand before a great mountain, bask in the presence of a vast ocean, or overlook the chasm of a deep canyon? I would suggest that it is because God's evidence is so clearly displayed that it's humbling and wonderfully overwhelming.

Psalm 19 beautifully  expresses this: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge." Wisdom is waiting to be found and knowledge is waiting to be communicated through general revelation; step outside and enjoy God's creation!

Level Four: Books

Japanese author Yoshida Kenkō had this to say way back in 1330(!) on the value of reading books: "It is a most wonderful comfort to sit alone beneath a lamp, book spread before you, and commune with someone from the past whom you have never met.” Indeed, much learning takes place when you read the wise words of someone from years past. And in today's world, you can even download books and read it on a tablet or laptop (although I'm a bit partial towards physical books).

But, although it should be implied, not just any book will suffice. Read well! Read wide! Prioritize reading more old books than new books. I've found that much of the new bestsellers are really just regurgitated versions of old ones. Some of my biggest breakthrough moments as a Christian have come when reading books from people who are much smarter than I am.

Level Five: Internet

I'll admit it: I use Google too much and I refer to Wikipedia far more often than I care to specify. And both resources offer a breadth of information that's hard to deny. But randomly surfing the web for information from people you don't know isn't always the answer. Limit your online reading to content written by trusted sources or recommendations from wise people.

Another confession: I'm a sucker for newsletters. Because I don't watch TV and I don't have Twitter, newsletters are where I get a lot of my information from. But the same rules apply - I only subscribe to newsletters from trusted people or those recommended by those I trust. Ten minutes reading a good newsletter (wink, wink) is usually time better spent than ten minutes aimlessly browsing.

Level Six: Social Media

Ah yes, the top of the pyramid. There are lots of great accounts to follow and helpful content being posted daily on social media. Although when you're searching for answers or seeking wisdom, Instagram is probably not the best destination. Social media can be a bright light in your life or it can be a dark hole. Anybody can have an opinion on anything - which usually means everybody has an opinion on everything. Choose wisely who and what you follow.

I would encourage anyone to take a "sabbatical" from social media at some point. I spent many months away from Facebook awhile back and it was a healthy decision for me. Social media should be used in moderation; like soda or alcohol, it’s fine in small doses but not healthy as the primary source of consumption in your diet.

You'll notice that this pyramid moves upwards from the most enduring to the most fleeting. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Community and fellowship have been around since the beginning of humanity. Nature and beauty were waiting to be enjoyed by the time humans were created. Many of the best books you will ever read were written by people who died before you were born. The internet is only a quarter of a century old, and social media will probably look radically different in ten years.

Where you get your information from matters. It matters to God, so it should matter to you. Think about your own life. Where do you go for wisdom? Is it God's Word? Or is social media your first choice? For more reading on this topic, I would highly recommend The Wisdom Pyramid.

Where does your information come from?