Love Edifies

"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." (1 Corinthians 8: 1)

While Paul is writing in the context of putting aside empty arguments about ceremony, the truth that love edifies versus knowledge which puffs up -- this truth cannot be ignored.

In our day, people prize knowledge, and technology has made knowledge not just easier to acquire, but the acquisition a source of revenue.

People want to be in the know, they want to have the inside information before someone else.

For all the knowledge which I had accumulated in my life, the uneasiness of facing a difficult world, of overcoming challenges in my life, did not get easier.

I could retreat into my books, but the fear of failure, the reproaches of doing anything wrong, would hold me back from stepping out.

Even the students whom I had taught in the past did not respect me for any amount of knowledge, but that I was willing to work with them, even when they misbehaved.

Love edifies, makes us strong, provides us a home, gives us a place of peace and protection, even when times get tough, when circumstances make no sense.


Knowledge can give us hot air, a blast of ballast, but all the thinking and reasoning in our heads cannot give us stability in this changing, volatile world.

Another question arises.

What is love? It must be more than a feeling.

How does the Bible define love?

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

Love is God sending His Son to die for us, but also to rise for us, and to minister on our behalf at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is our propitiation, our payment, our Mercy Seat, our High Priest Forever after the order of Melchizedek, who serves after the power of an endless life (Hebrews 7: 16)

Love edifies, makes us strong, makes us certain in an uncertain world.

When you know and believe in this love (1 John 4: 16), you will see that as Christ is so are you in this world (1 John 4: 17), and you will see every fear cast away (1 John 4: 18)