on the pursuit of true knowledge

CS Lewis is certainly correct that those who are willing to seek knowledge in unfavorable conditions are the ones who achieve more. Hard work, as it turns out, tends to pay off. But Lewis was a Christian and as such we may find more in this quote than just his encouragement to pursue knowledge regardless of the conditions you find yourself in.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. - Proverbs 1.7

If we consider ‘knowledge’ in the quote above from CS Lewis in light of Proverbs 1.7, we can deduce that those who want a right relationship with God, regardless of their circumstances, are those that ‘achieve more’. Now, I know some of us are already uncomfortable with what I just wrote, and if you’re definition of ‘achieve more’ is material gain and success then I agree, it’s a gross sentence. The prosperity gospel is not welcome here.

If, however, our definition of ‘achieve more’ isn’t based on material gain but instead is focused on doing the work God has called us to, then I think you’ll find the concept much more appealing. It’s seems rather logical to me that those that pursue a right relationship with God, regardless of their circumstances or conditions, will ultimately ‘achieve more’ for the Kingdom, not because they are better Christians or because they are working harder but simply because their priorities are correct. Their life is founded on and buffeted by their pursuit of God.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” - Matthew 7.24-27