Knowledge Motivated by Love

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 4, 2019

Next is your question about eating food that has been sacrificed to idols. On this question everyone feels that only his answer is the right one! But although being a “know-it-all” makes us feel important, what is really needed to build the church is love. If anyone thinks he knows all the answers, he is just showing his ignorance. But the person who truly loves God is the one who is open to God’s knowledge. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, TLB

I love knowledge. Politics, sports, global events, human interest stories, social media, travel, history, religion, statistics—all interest me. Alarmingly, I catch myself measuring my importance by how much I think I know. Sadly, I sometimes try to impress others by my perceived ability to comment on topics I have no business expressing an opinion on—as I only “know enough to be dangerous”. I spot a news headline about Tesla, and think I can offer investment advice? Ha! By itself knowledge inflates pride, but when coupled with love builds up others with humble intent.

Provocatively, Paul addressed the common occurrence of a Christian’s response to eating food sacrificed to idols. Idol worship, a pagan ritual, was a direct infraction to God’s command. So, we are warned to avoid conceited knowledge, since it cloaks our liberty in a self serving fashion, rather than robing us in selfless sacrifice to Jesus. Left to itself knowledge puffs up the mind with egotistical ideas, while love builds up the heart in devotion to Christ. A know-it-all attitude is a trap camouflaged with conceit, contrasted to love for God—hotly pursuing knowledge of God.

“If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do?” (1 Corinthians 13:2, TLB).

On the occasion you may be the smartest person in the room, be discreet—not deceptive, but chose the greater part of valor. Process in the moment how what you know and who you know may benefit the one who is in front of you. Many times the Lord brings people across your path not to impress them with what you know, but to encourage them with who you know—Jesus.

Knowledge is needed, even necessary. There is no virtue in choosing to remain ignorant, but wisdom first seeks to really know God. To know Him is the highest form of education and enlightenment. Do not be content with a culturally dumbed down caricature of Christ as a good teacher—one of many. Stretch your faith and mind to know what it means to have the mind of Christ. Build all your knowing on the foundation of knowing God, and your pride will starve for lack of attention, replaced by learning how to better love and be loved. Knowledge fueled by love streaks across a soul’s darkness, illuminating Jesus. A mind full of knowledge and a heart full of love led by the Holy Spirit is Satan’s greatest nightmare! Learn with a motive to love.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in my understanding grow my love to leverage knowledge for the benefit of others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Application

How can I grow in knowing God and loving people?

Related Reading

Proverbs 12:1; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 2:10

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Knowledge fueled by love streaks across a soul’s darkness, illuminating Jesus. #wisdomhunters #knowandlove

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