Love Over Knowledge

Text: 1 Corinthians 8 Theme: We should love others, rather than offend them through our knowledge. Key verses: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.” (v. 2-3) “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.” (v. 4) “But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.” (v. 7) “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?” (v. 9-10) “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” (v. 13) What God said to me: Dwayne, this is a very simple principle to grasp, yet few of my children choose to heed it. Knowing the truth about various freedoms you have in me does not set you free from your obligation to other believers. Those who have not yet discovered the freedoms you enjoy may be offended and tempted to turn away from their faith altogether if they see you “indulging.” Rather than excuse your conduct based on your enlightenments, you should respond like Paul. You should cease your activities in their presence and in their hearing. Your knowledge of what does not defile could in fact defile you before me if you ignore my little ones and don’t place their welfare over your own. What I said to God: Thank You, holy One, for speaking to me today. Please help me search my heart and my habits to see if I might be a stumbling block to believers around me. I know that begins at home with my children. May I love others more than I love myself and my “knowledge.”