Not taking the Donut off the Buddha plate

What is it about our quest of knowledge that causes us to open doors that should not be opened? Through our pursuit of knowledge we have unleashed viruses that were dormant, split atoms in a test of power and created chemical agents that if set free would destroy life as we know it. In the same manner there are some of us who want to know what its like to be with someone we shouldn’t be or want to know what it’s like to go on a sinful spree. The quest to experience evil has destroyed many homes and families. Knowledge does truly puff us up and causes us to do things that are harmful to us.

1 Corinthians 8:1-2

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

In Corinth temple servants of the various false gods would sell the left over meat that was dedicated to their gods. Normally you would buy the meat belonging to the god you served and eat it as a form of worship to that god. Some of the church at Corinth ate the meat that had previously been sacrificed to idols. They knew that the idols were nothing and therefore the things sacrificed to them were nothing. Nevertheless their knowledge puffed them up. Doing so offended the believers who had previously been idol worshippers and wanted to separate from that life. It caused others to stumble in their faith. Why, because their knowledge was not tempered with love.

Knowledge without love is reckless. It moves forward without constraints and seeks itself as its own end. Without love knowledge will cause us to be insensitive to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We may even begin to look down on those who God has saved just because they don’t know what we know and may be weaker in faith.But if any man thinks that he knows anything, then he doesn’t possess knowledge in the manner that he should (V.2).

A lot of believers have head knowledge without heart knowledge and therefore do not know how they should know. Knowledge puffs up because it is simply an accumulation of information. But love builds up because it is an impartation of divine affection. Knowledge without love is having a mind for God instead of having the mind of God. Knowledge will puff us up to arrogance because it is not coupled with humility of heart. Contrary to what most think knowledge does not give understanding. Only when the mind of God meets with the heart of God within us do we get an understanding. If you want to seek the things above than seek to have the heart of God. Don’t seek to be puffed up but be built up in the most holy faith.