1 Corinthians 8:1b states… “’Knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up.”
I have a confession. I’ve spent most of my life accumulating the wrong things.
Growing up in the American public school system means being surrounded by teachers, parents, school administrators, and other authority figures who help future generations accumulate the knowledge that will soon drive the country. They teach us history, math, social skills and wisdom; all important things and all in an attempt to help us grow.
Although many people are eager to teach us what they know, very few people teach us how to love.
Besides, to whom do we look to teach us such things? Who is the authority figure? Who can be a shining example of what it means to love?
If I’m brutally honest, for most of my life I pursued gaining knowledge at the cost of learning how to love. In our society, how often we prioritize knowledge over love is a tragedy.
If you want to impress someone or build yourself up, share your knowledge with them. But truly, if you want to change someone’s life, show them love.
Let us be a people who cares more for each other’s needs rather than being the smartest person in the room. Even if it means being the least among us in terms of knowledge, let us be the ones who loved the most, cared the most, and served at the highest capacity. Let us strive to be a people who will love each other deeply, even at the cost of so called “knowledge.”
“So faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
Let me ask, what does love cost you? Is it worth the sacrifice of being right all the time?
Would you rather be known for the abundance of what’s in your head or the abundance of what’s in your heart?
Jesus, examine our hearts.
Lord, let ours be filled with love.
