Puff up or build up?
There are some very knowledgeable people. You know the kind I mean? You can ask them about nearly any subject, and they just seem to know something about it.
They are human-computers, who don’t need to ask ‘Alexa’ or ‘Siri’ for help. I, on the other hand, seem to know very little about many things! Where would I be without Google, or ChatGPT?
I have often wondered, if I ever went on Mastermind, what my specialist subject would be. Of course, I’d like to say the Bible! However, I might do better if it was the original Star Wars Trilogy (1977-1983).
Back then, I devoured any materials on those landmark films. I bought magazines, books, posters and watched any documentary I could. Remember the was no internet then.
I could bore any willing listener on the subject with my knowledge of the characters, filming locations, special effects… I could go on (and on)!
Recently, I was reading Paul’s first letter to the Christians in Corinth. At that time, it was a prominent, wealthy and thriving port city in Greece. Paul wrote two letters to them to encourage, support and instruct this new church. At the beginning of chapter eight Paul wrote…
“We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
Paul addressed a specific issue here, where some thought they could behave in a certain way, because of what they knew.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with knowledge, in fact it’s a good thing! But that was not the point here.
Unfortunately, this ‘knowledge’ held by some was causing problems and divisions in the church. This was not good, and so Paul needed to remind them of the importance of loving one another.
This was in line with what Jesus taught. In the context of the church in Corinth, Paul encouraged the people not to just think about themselves but about the whole community they were part of.
When we truly love others, we think about what is good for them over ourselves. I believe that the church should aim to be the best at doing this.
This can also be true in families or in the workplace. For it to work, it needs everyone to play their part, to be mindful of others and to proactively seek to care and support one another.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader