Knowledge

I have heard this in a verse, ‘knowledge puffs up’, but what does knowledge puffs up really mean in this verse?  It relates to knowledge that isn’t backed up with love.  Read 1 Corinthians 8:1, “Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”

It seems that some people use this verse to discourage believers that love the Word of God and study it to help build up the body of Christ.  This verse is talking about idol worship and foods being offered to the saints to eat that were sacrificed to these idols and causing a brother to stumble. Knowledge puffs up, relates to those who know that an idol is nothing and they have that knowledge and authority and the freedom to partake, and  do it, causing a brother to stumble.  The other side of the coin is the person who has that knowledge but restrains themselves in order not to cause a brother to stumble that may not have that knowledge.  They restrain themselves because of their love for their brother.  No one should discourage a person from studying the Word of God unless they are just doing it to make themselves look more important than others and, in that case, they should be corrected from a position of love not discouraged to study.

I will put some verses here to show that it is very important for God’s people to study so that they will be able to live what they proclaim and to give an apologia, or reason, why they believe in the first place and, also, so they won’t be caught up in false doctrine.

Read what it says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  This is a command to study the Word so that you can use the Word in the right context.

Now read Hosea 4:1- 9, “Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.”

These people were chastised for lack of knowledge and judgment fell upon them because they forgot the law of God!!  Because they rejected knowledge, God rejected them.

Job 36:7-12 says this, “He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.”  Here is another case of rejecting knowledge that brings judgment.

Now read Proverbs 1:7-9, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”  Knowledge is very important when used with love for the building up of the body of Christ!!

Now check out Proverbs 15:7, “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.”

I am sure there are other verses, but I think I made my point.  No one will ever go wrong studying the Word of God, so they won’t take it out of context!!  Don’t let anyone discourage you from reading and studying the Word of God, in it you will find so much wisdom and knowledge that you can use.  I hope this has been a help and an encouragement to you!!

May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!! Give the Lord a shout of praise for He is worthy!!