Knowledge puffs up, while love builds up
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Scripture
1 Corinthians 8:1,13
“Now about food sacrificed to idols: we know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
“Therefore if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”
Observation
Knowledge is great, but knowledge without love only benefits me. What feels like growth may simply be the sound of my ego inflating.
Love causes me to seek the growth of others also. Paul’s knowledge gave him freedom to eat things that may violate the conscience of others, but love caused him to consider their growth and spiritual health instead of merely doing what made his belly happy.
Application
I’m blessed to live in an era when there is no shortage of knowledge. Any random question that pops into my head, can be answered by the device in my pocket:
“How many toes does an Aardvaark have?” (4 in the front, 5 in the back)
“How much is a gallon of gasoline in Argentina today?” ($3.93)
The problem is that all of the knowledge in the world will not build us as people up into the unity and purpose for which we are called–only love will do that.
If I want to be more like Christ, then I cannot settle for the easy ego inflation of knowledge alone–I must love the way Christ loves, with a genuine, hands-on, real, practical, applied love which prioritizes the growth of the whole above my own comfort and preferences.
This week, I need to look for opportunities to love those around me–and then grow together in the love of God.
Prayer
God, you have all knowledge–and yet you loved me enough to pay the price for my sins. Thank you!
Teach me to love the way that you do, so that I could be a catalyst of growth in the world. As I walk in your love may I always be built up in you, instead of puffed up in knowledge.
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