We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
(1 Corinthians 8:1 NKJV)
In 1 Corinthians 8, the Apostle Paul addressed yet another issue in the Corinthian Church. Some of the new converts sacrificed foods to idols in their previous belief system, and questioned whether eating foods sacrificed to idols was acceptable. The text suggests that perhaps other believers were eating these foods, therefore the topic of foods sacrificed to idols became an issue within the church. I suppose the question on the floor was, "Is eating foods sacrificed to idols idolatry or are we free to eat what we please as long as we thank God for it?
Paul answered the question very clearly throughout this chapter. He stated that an idol is nothing, and that there is one God, the Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 8:4,6). Since an idol is nothing, we can conclude that the foods were sacrificed to nothing. And if the foods were sacrificed to nothing, how could the food be defiled? In verse 8, Paul also stated, "But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse." To support Paul's statement, we can also listen to the words of Christ:
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
(Matthew 15:10-11, NIV)
We see that the questions concerning sacrificed foods was answered. The Corinthians had liberty to eat foods sacrificed to idols if they choose to because it was not a sin. However, eating sacrificed foods may have felt like a sin to some of those new converts. And seeing other Christians do what felt like idol worship to them, was a stumbling block in their newfound faith.
So, instead of Paul becoming puffed up in knowledge, he chose to stand in love. Paul advised that although they had the liberty to partake in those foods, if it created a stumbling block to anyone's faith, they should refrain from doing so. This was an act of love that did not overrule knowledge. For true knowledge in Christ should lead to acts of love towards others.
Paul and the Corinthian Church could have disregarded the feelings of the new converts and stood firm in truth. They could have chosen to flow freely in their liberty at the expense of their brothers and sisters in Christ. But that selfish decision would have placed them in sin. 1 Corinthians 8:12 reads, "But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ."
Paul's actions and advice illustrate that knowledge void of love leads to the destruction of others. Today, we believers have knowledge based in scripture. We know that God sent his Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world. We know that those who remain in sin stand in danger of receiving God's wrath. We also know that God is love and it was love that made him create a plan of salvation for us despite our sinful nature.
We are to take the knowledge that we have and spread it to those who remain ignorant or lost. But sometimes believers allow truth to overshadow love. We tend to give truth in unloving ways, which will draw no one. The opposite is also true. There are those who forsake truth in the name of love. They comfort people in their sins without telling the truth, which is not love at all.
True love is a balanced combination of both truth and love. When Christ walked the earth, he did not forsake love for truth, nor did he forsake truth for love. He not only taught truth, but he was/is truth (John 14:6). And of course, he exhibited love by dying so that we may live. In this chapter, Paul’s exhibit of love did not cancel out knowledge. His advice to refrain from sacrificed foods was not advice to forsake knowledge. He led with knowledge by telling them the truth, but he was not prideful or puffed up in his knowledge. Instead, his love opted to esteem his fellow followers over his freedom. If he would have remained puffed up in knowledge instead of edifying with love, his knowledge would have been ineffective.
Likewise, while having knowledge of Christ is paramount, if we give knowledge without acting in love, we are operating in a knowledgeable spirit of pride rather than the loving Spirit of God. Such a beautiful knowledge can become venomous when we are oblivious to how we speak or behave among those who do not share the same knowledge. We can have all the knowledge the Bible has to offer, but if we aren't drawing anyone to Christ, is not the knowledge in vain? The second greatest command is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and that love should draw people to Christ and edify those who are already in Christ.
If our words or deeds turn people away from Christ or weaken our brothers and sisters’ faith, is that not evil? Dare I say that when we turn people away with our words or deeds, we are behaving demonically. Proverbs 16:24 states "pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 15:4 states "the soothing tongue is a tree life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit". We have the choice to heal or to crush with our words and deeds. We can soothe with honey or weaken with poison. The knowledge of Christ is beautiful and has the power to transform lives. But who will hear or accept this life-changing knowledge if we stand pridefully in knowledge void of love?
So, let’s avoid being puffed up in knowledge. With loving-kindness the Lord drew unto us (Jeremiah 31:3) and with loving kindness should we draw unto others. Let us lead with truth but draw with honey.
That's all you guys. Have an amazing day and week!
Quin Arrington is a wife, mother, and author with books available on Amazon at:
Thank you for your time and attention. God bless!
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