Build up With Love.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 8

 

1 Corinthians 8:1

Now concerning^[a] food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

(ESV)

 

Individuals in the Church are at varying levels of spiritual maturity based upon their knowledge and application of the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 8:1 reminds us that knowledge, even of the Word of God can puff one up with love building one up. The Apostle Paul is familiar with how one possessing a vast knowledge of Scripture can become puffed up and full of hatred against anyone challenging this knowledge as a Pharisee. However, on the road to Damascus, Paul encountered the love of God with the calling to bring the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles in love to build them up and not puffing them up with knowledge bringing others down.

 

In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul states that all in Corinth possess knowledge concerning food offered to idols with the caution that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). Anyone imagining they know something does not know what he ought to know with one loving God known by God (1 Corinthians 8:2-3). The knowledge Paul is speaking of is the knowledge that an idol has no real existence because of their knowledge there is only one God, the God of the Bible (1 Corinthians 8:4). The gods represented by idols in Corinth were numerous but those in Corinth professing their love of God are known by God, the creator of all (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

 

However, while the knowledge of the insignificance of idols was common, not all in the Church in Corinth possessed this knowledge without a weak conscience that could tempt them to sin. Those possessing this knowledge who had former associations with food offered to idols could have weak consciences that are easily defiled by eating food offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8:7). Paul reminds the Corinthians that while eating food offered to idols does not make them better than anyone else nor are they worse off if they do eat (1 Corinthians 8:8). However, this right to freedom in Christ should be exercised with caution so as not to become a stumbling block to those with weak consciences that may become defiled (1 Corinthians 8:9-10). In this instance, the exercise of our freedom in Christ based on knowledge can puff us up, leading to our exercise of this freedom in the presence of a weak believer who may be tempted (1 Corinthians 8:11). This exercise of freedom in this instance becomes a sin against our brother or sister by wounding their weak conscience, causing the one possessing the knowledge to sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12). Paul, therefore, concludes by saying if food offered to idols makes a brother, or sister, stumble, he will abstain from eating such food in his or her presence (1 Corinthians 8:13).

 

In previous chapters in 1 Corinthians, Paul addressed problems of division, immorality, and marital issues within the Church (1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 5). Now Paul moves on to food offered to idols and begins by stating that knowledge puffs up while love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). In Christ we no longer live under condemnation and have complete freedom from sin (Romans 8:1). While this knowledge was true, the Corinthians were using this knowledge to eat food offered to idols based upon Peter’s vision of the legality of all foods (Acts 10:9-16). Based on Paul’s writing, the Corinthians had become puffed up with the knowledge of their freedom in Christ, eating food offered to idols in the presence of weaker believers tempting them to return to their previous worship of idols. Paul’s lesson to the Corinthians is to be sensitive to the conscience and spiritual maturity of other believers and abstain from eating food offered to idols in their presence (1 Corinthians 8:7-13).

 

While the issue of eating foods offered to idols is not common in our modern society and thus not an issue that could become a stumbling block to a weaker believer, other issues could. For example, the consumption of alcohol by a believer. While Romans 8:1 does tell us that believers who do consume a drink are not under condemnation, it does advise doing so in moderation and not to become drunk (Ephesians 5:18; Titus 2:3). However, when in the presence of a believer saved out of alcoholism, one should not drink in his or her presence for doing so may result in their temptation to consume an alcoholic beverage, falling back into alcoholism. We must not become puffed up with the knowledge of our freedom in Christ but be sensitive to other believers in love, abstaining from activities that could cause them to sin.

 

If you are reading this post and have not prayed to make a profession of faith in Jesus as your Savior, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Remember, knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. My prayer is that my fellow believers not become puffed up in their knowledge of the Word of God but lovingly build each other up with the Word of God, being sensitive to others' spiritual maturity. May God Challenge and bless everyone reading this post.