Knowledge vs Love

One of the problems in the church at Corinth was some of the members didn’t feel they were important. They thought that no one appreciated them.

The medicine for that problem was love. The other members needed to identify those members and apply that healing salve. That’s kind of a problem because generally those weaker members don’t just stand up and say “I’m weak”. So… the more mature members need to be on the look-out for signs of weakness. Keep their ear to the ground so to speak.

I knew a family many moons ago that thought that everyone else thought they were better than them… kind of had a chip on their shoulder. I also knew a fellow who really wanted to teach a Bible class but the Elders had decided that they only wanted professional teachers teaching those classes and said… no thank you. He was hurt by that.

1 Cor. 8:1 says, “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up.”

Knowledge might address the above problem by stating, “everyone is equal in this congregation” and “we want the very best teachers”. But knowledge doesn’t really solve the issue does it? In fact it might make it worse.

Love addresses the problem by acting like this family was the most important to them in the world… inviting them over for Thanksgiving, asking their opinion, seeking out their company , etc., etc., etc.

Loving Elders might say, OK you might have all the teaching talent in the world but we’ll never know unless we give you a try… have at it. Or ask them to team teach with someone else, or lead a home Bible study, etc., etc., etc.

As a congregation we need everyone looking forwards, not sideways and certainly not backwards. If our vision is distracted by ancillary issues our mission is also distracted. Don’t tear people down with superior knowledge but make a few sacrifices along the way and demonstrate love, patience and understanding because after all that’s how God is with us.