Knowledge Is Not Always Power
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NKJV
8 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
There is an adage that has been around since Sir Francis Bacon and Thomas Hobbes in the 1600’s: knowledge is power. While there is a certain amount of truth to that statement, it is flavored by an underlying humanistic philosophy. The Scriptures tell us a different story.
Paul wrote that knowledge puffs up, but love edifies or builds up. From a spiritual perspective, knowledge is fine, but it’s love that builds up and strengthens. Hobbes and Bacon were not taking the God kind of love into consideration. To eliminate the spiritual element of life will always be lacking according to God’s order of things. One of mankind’s greatest problems is not lack of knowledge but lack of love. When selfishness dominates, knowledge becomes limited in its power to change lives.
Paul was writing to the church at Corinth reminding them that knowledge can cause arrogance. That’s a problem. And even when knowledge is present, it is still lacking. Paul said we know nothing as we ought to know. That is a humbling statement but extremely helpful. I heard a man once say that absolutes in the mouths of novices are unbecoming. When compared to God’s knowledge, we are all novices. We can stand on the absolutes of Scripture, but even when it comes to biblical revelation, we are all learning. One thing we do know is that love is always going to be the right way. We won’t always know everything, but we can impact others with our love. Love builds up others. Love is the opposite of selfishness and has greater strength.
Paul wrote that if anyone loves God, this person is known by Him. I am still learning all that means. I know that God knows all of us, but this verse indicates a deeper expression of God’s relationship toward us.
Paul was writing to a church that was not taking others into account. The issue was eating meat offered to idols and causing offense to those who were bothered by eating in idols’ temples. Paul was reminding the church that knowing an idol was nothing, was not an issue. Not causing a brother to stumble was the issue. Knowledge makes puffy, but it’s love that builds up.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for Your love for me. Thank you that I can share that love and build up those around me. I am always learning, growing, and building others up.