I Corinthian 8:1-3
“Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes one conceited, but love edifies people. If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.”
Knowledge is good, but wisdom is better. The word knowledge reminds me of the temptation Eve went through. Genesis 3:5 says, “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Having knowledge appealed to Eve, but it was sin.
What interests me is Paul’s warning about knowledge in that it puffs up. That’s being prideful. Faces come to mind as well as types. School is how most cultures raise their young people. Most spend at least 13 years in it. Some excel easily. They can be prideful. We all seam to have our talents. Those on top also can also be prideful.
The problem with being prideful is that it’s the opposite of God and what He wants. As we look at the Beatitudes, we learn traits of God or attitudes He prizes. Here are some that are against pride, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”, “Blessed are the meek” and “Blessed are the pure in heart”.
Let’s look deeper at these. To be poor in spirit is to know ourselves and our state. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Those poor in spirit know this. It’s hard to be prideful when we know this. God values these.
The next beatitude mentioned was about the meek. These understand their strengths, but don’t allow this to elevate themselves. This is also prized by the Lord.
The last beatitude mentioned is those who are pure in heart. To be pure in heart means we are genuine. We aren’t pretending to be more than we are. There is a healthy understanding of ourselves. The one who’s puffed up thinks of himself more highly.
So, while having knowledge can be good, it can lead to bad attitudes. God wants us to be humble. He is all that those beatitudes mentioned.
Lord, help us to close to You and like You. Help us to use the knowledge You’ve given us wisely.