Puff, or Love?

“Concerning food offered to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know…

“Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘an idol has no real existence,’ and that ‘there is no God but one.’ For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth- there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’- for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

“However, not all possess this knowledge. Some… eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 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.”

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I… understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 8:1-2,4,7-13; 13:1-2,4-7

The more we understand the magnitude of God’s grace, the better we understand true freedom in Christ. But imparting that to others is His work. Our choice of arrogance or love can affect their spiritual development.

Filled with knowledge of grace, our tendency may be to preach it, even flaunt it. But swaggering in confidence because we know best, without thought for another’s background or perception, can distort true freedom. Our puffery may block the Spirit’s conviction for ourselves, and unwittingly confuse and upend those weak in faith we hope to influence. Knowledge that trumps love does more harm than good.

But what if we first put on love? What if we dedicated ourselves to understand others, and honed patience, kindness, self-control? If the righteousness of God infused our knowledge and exercised freedom, how could it be used to build up, enrich, and bless? With whom might thoughtful, compassionate behavior- foregoing or participating in a pleasure- spread grace and encouragement, unveil a deeper grasp of God, and promote spiritual maturity? (1 Corinthians 10:23-24,31-33)

Father, may I do all things in love, humbly exemplifying You wherever I am. (1 Corinthians 16:14)