Last time we looked at 1 Corinthians 8:1.” Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others.” It is a verse directed toward those whose have their facts right but hearts wrong. Here Paul addresses the Bible-brilliant-but-people-
We might think hard about the Scriptures, but we miss the point about people if we miss the ‘love, building up and encouraging others’ part. Eagerness to learn more about God is good…Zeal to learn more about God’s Word is good, and it’s often an important stage in a new believer’s development in their love for God. It’s all good. But the problem comes when we cloister with those we agree with and don’t love people…don’t have a passion for the people God has a passion for.
We don’t have to go to the other side of the world to do that; or even the other side of town. Some of us don’t even need to go to the other side of the church we attend or the other side of the house we live in. Paul knew the Scriptures better than any of us…he wrote a lot of them. And his conclusion is that knowledge comes with the danger of enabling a self-righteous spirit within us that manifests itself in arrogance. When that happens it creates an environment of elitism. It creates a pecking order. It creates an ‘us and them’ mentality.
Consider for a moment Jesus’ story about the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:10-13). One had a life saturated in all the teachings of God. That man knew the Scriptures and could recite astounding quantities of the written Word of God…He was approved of and by those who also knew the Word exceptionally well. He was on the team. He was a celebrity by the values and popularity measurements of his day. But he missed the point. His self-absorption and lack of love was palpable.
When we enable that kind of lifestyle for ourselves we become increasingly secluded. Our only friend increasingly ends up being ourselves. Because self-love is all that is left—and that’s at odds with “God is Love” (1 Jn 4:8). But do we think of Him as love? Do we know Him as Love?
What we think about God is the single most important thing in how we will respond to others. Loving God is the greatest commandment, but “the second is just like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” When we are captured and are captivated by the Love image of God we want to Him to sow His love and His encouragement in our hearts. (Matt 22:38-39)
“So encourage each other and build each other up” (1 Thes 5:11).