Too many Christians believe that knowledge is the most important part of discipleship. As in:

• If I know more about what the bible says, then I am a better disciple.
• If I know more about how to behave in church, then I am a better disciple.
• If I know the right answers in a bible study, then I am a better disciple.

While knowledge is necessary, it is not the most important part of discipleship, and, it is a terrible measure of success in it. A lot of Christians know a lot and do nothing. Can that really be called “discipleship”?

Let’s consider hunger for a moment.

Could THIS be a better way to measure discipleship? (*hunger, as opposed to knowledge) Why yes, yes it could!

At the start of Jesus’ ministry – around the time he was baptized – he asked some of the first disciples “What do you want?”

• He did not ask them “What do you know?”
• He did not ask them “What would you like me to teach you?”

That’s because the privilege of following Jesus goes only to those who desire to follow Him.

It is for those who want Him – not people who merely wish to try to learn some rules. It is for those who need Him – not people who simply enjoy studying a book.

Hunger (love, desire, want, need) is what moves people. A hungry person will always eat when given the opportunity. Their desires will lead them into action. That’s discipleship.

There are four possible combinations of knowledge and hunger:

• Knowledge          + Hunger
• Knowledge          + Hunger
• Knowledge          + Hunger
• Knowledge          + Hunger

Having both is the best scenario. But which do you start with if you have neither?

Consider a lesson from game theory:

• Some games are finite. They have a known timeline, fixed rules, and clear terms for victory.
• Other games are infinite. The timeline is unclear, the rules regularly change (*if agreed upon rules exist at all), and survival is main objective – not victory.

What should we learn from this? That we must know the type of game we are playing!

When we make discipleship mostly about knowledge,  we are playing the game wrong! (*or playing the wrong game) Knowledge about God is important. But reaching higher levels of knowledge is not “victory”.

Following Jesus is about loving and obeying Him until we die.

It’s a long game. It’s truly an “infinite game” in that we will be doing it forever. The rules won’t change. But our circumstances do. And God’s plan for us unfolds over time. So, we adapt and endure.

But it is not knowledge that keeps us going – it’s desire. A love of God. A hunger to be near Him.