Knowledge Versus Love (1 Cor. 8:1) Udskriv
Skrevet af Jørn Nielsen   
Onsdag, 14. november 2018 08:21

"Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies", says the man of significant knowledge including theological knowledge, prophetic insight, ethnic understanding, deep comprehension of the human nature, empathy, etc.  but he says knowledge puffs up as a breeding ground for pride.

There´s a lot of spiritual pride among us.  One of the students with the missionary fellowship from my early youth in the U.S. interfered with some Greek words with which he - with conceit - corrected a visiting bible teacher.  The speaker said, "You don´t have to teach me Greek which, for your information, I have studied for more than 30 years!"

The young man was puffed-up and knew  very little Greek, maybe hardly more than the Greek alphabet!  Indeed, pride has many disguises.

"But love edifies!"  That kind of love is not in our fallen nature, but "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  (Rom. 5:5).  Our relationship to our brothers and sisters in Christ is a love relationship (1 Jo. 3:14) - not one of puffed up knowledge.

I still remember my first encounter with an old soul winner who cared for my lost soul.  What impressed me was not his knowledge or status as a celebrated preacher, but the love that shined forth from his dear face. O, that woke me up spiritually and I began to long for spiritual reality.

I must say with Abraham Lincoln, "God must be fond of simple people for He has made so many of them!"  In between I meet very simple Christians who have very little theological knowledge, but they love the Lord which is easy to tell from their radiant countenances. Then I must "surrender"!

Recently I had some coffee fellowship after the service with a young woman from Nigeria.  "Where´s your Bible?" I asked.  "Nowhere", she said.  "Too bad", I replied, but then she told me that she is not able to read nor write, but it was evident that she loved Jesus.  I was so ashamed and asked for her forgiveness.  She was gracious about it, and the love of Christ prevailed.  I think I had my lesson.

Nov. 14, 2018 - jn