1 Corinthians 8:1
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
The problem with studying so much is that it can replace devotion to God. We can study about God but not really know God. I have seen this danger creep into the lives of my students. They put so much energy into passing courses and completing assignments that they neglect spending time in devotion. I am speaking from personal experience. This can also happen in ministry. Pastors can be so busy getting ready for the next sermon, Bible study, or board meeting that they neglect to be growing spiritually. The apostles in Acts 6 devoted themselves to two things: prayer and preaching. They put loving God first in their ministries. When the demands are high upon someone, the temptation is to forsake our devotion. At times the past few weeks I have gotten behind on this blog because I have been overwhelmed with work and things I had to do. I feel this neglect in my spiritual life.
Knowledge is important. It counterbalances feelings and subjectivity. It is the bricks that build up the walls of our lives. But knowledge cannot be the foundation. Love must be. Once we begin to attain some knowledge, we naturally want to tell other people about it. We begin to elevate ourselves and promote ourselves and our ideas. This is not far for the slippery slope of pride. The result of this is that those around us begin to feel inferior and unimportant. We put ourselves first. A result is the breakdown of relationships and community. This is often shown in church divisions or broken families.
Love is the opposite. Love will include some knowledge of the object of our love, but it will be outward focused. Love looks to how it can bring others along in relationship with God. Love says, “You are too important to me for me to cause you any harm. I love you so much that I will set aside my knowledge and agenda so that you may grow closer to God.” This is a sacrifice that is difficult to make. It will involve crucifying our own ideas and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us the mind of Christ. This will result in the love of Christ filling our hearts and overflowing to build up those around us.
This is what the Corinthians desperately needed in their church, and it is what is desperately needed in our church, marriages, and families today.
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