DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LOVE EDIFIES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LOVE EDIFIES

"Now, concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." (I Corinthians 8:1-3)

How we treat fellow believers in the Body of Christ is a demonstration of our love for God and for others, and how God's love flows through us.

The issue in front of Paul was that some believers at Corinth had freedom to eat meat that had been offered to idols, while other believers felt that it was wrong and their consciences were defiled (vs. 7).

Some were coming from the standpoint of knowledge. They knew that in God's eyes, there was nothing inherently wrong with eating meat offered to idols, because these idols were nothing and had no power over the meat. Christians had liberty to eat such foods.

However, not everyone had that knowledge and their consciences were defiled by people who ate such foods.

Paul's answer was that those who had freedom to eat meats offered to idols should, because of love, refrain from eating them if it would cause offense to a brother. Paul vowed, "If food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble" (vs 13).

We in our culture do not have the issue about eating food offered to idols. But we do have areas to which this principle is applicable. Drinking alcohol is one such issue. Some have freedom to imbibe and others do not. What should be my attitude in regard to this?

Love is greater than knowledge. I may be right and I may be wrong in what I can do, but that is not the issue. The issue is, am I willing to set aside my freedom or my belief because I love my brother, and do not want to offend him? Knowledge puffs our pride; love edifies others. Love is the better choice.  God knows those who love Him.

Love, Dad