"Knowledge without Love"(1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

 

Sacrificing food to idols was quite common a long time ago. Although we may see some cultures still practice food sacrifices, it is not really a concern for Christians these days.

 

God has created all things, and they are all under the sovereignty of God. However, we can use these things in a wicked way. In fact, it is easy for us to corrupt the good purposes that God had intended for all his creation. In the same way, there are Christian song writers who started off as secular musicians but later created music to worship God. The style of music was never immoral, but how that music was used made in sinful. Rich people can use money in a righteous way or a depraved way. It does not make money evil. What is evil is hoarding money through avarice, spending money on vices, using money for bribes and squandering money on debauchery. God gives us resources to live and to help others, and we can glorify God by using our resources in the manner that they were intended for.

 

Idols are objects used in a way that takes away glory from God. The objects are not evil in themselves but are used in way that takes away God’s glory. People put their trust in idols and fall into fearing the idols or worshipping them. Food offered to idols later to be sold to the markets put some Christians at unease whereas other Christians knew that these idols had no power. This knowledge concerning the false and inept idols and our freedom to eat all foods created problems.

 

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV

 

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so, by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:9-13 ESV

 

We have freedom to eat whatever food we want, but we must be aware of others and their struggles with faith. We should practice our freedom to win others to Christ and not be an obstacle for others as they strive to know Christ more.

 

We can anything but sin, however, what good is that if we are not winning others over to Christ. We need love to use our abilities to be able to think of and to care for others. Without love, our knowledge will puff us up. Without love we become arrogant. Knowledge without love will never work. This knowledge is also our abilities.

 

Educators are not just those professionals working in schools. We all teach others in different capacities and at various times. Without love, both our formal and informal lessons may result in preventing students from knowing Christ. We need to be intentional with our love, so that we will not fall into arrogance.

Worship Songs

Our God 

113 Open the eyes of my heart

181 I will run to you