Knowledge and Love

One of the Apostle Paul’s most meaningful sayings is, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” He does not mean to depreciate knowledge or glorify ignorance. It is right for us to be learners. We should always be seeking after knowledge. He who is content to be ignorant in this world, where the stores of knowledge are so accessible, fails to grasp the meaning of life. We are to read God’s thoughts wherever we can find them written. Intelligence makes one’s life broader and deeper and adds to our usefulness. We are not to understand Paul as casting contempt upon knowledge. He himself had mastered the best knowledge of his day.

The context shows that he is speaking of a certain kind of knowledge. The eating of meats, which had been offered to idols, is the subject. Those to whom he was writing had been declaring that there was nothing wrong in eating such things. They knew that and were not disposed to show any leniency of judgment to those who could not see the subject just as they saw it, nor to modify their own conduct in the slightest to suit the weak consciences of other Christians. Their knowledge settled the matter.

We all have seen people of this kind. They have no patience with other people’s opinions unless they agree with their own. They allow no discussion; for there can be no other ‘right’ thought about a matter when they have made up their mind to it. They quickly resent any expression from any that differs with their own. When they have spoken on a subject, there is to be no tolerance of any new light. There are people of this kind in every community. Their knowledge is dogmatic, tyrannical, and intolerant. When it has rendered its decision concerning any course of conduct or any question of duty, there is no appeal. Knowledge settles it.

The Apostle intimates, however, that knowledge does not always have the final word in settling questions of duty. There is another element, which may have an important influence in deciding what is right; love must have its voice. It is in such cases as he is addressing, that “knowledge puffs up.” It makes a man vain, arrogant, cold, and selfish. But, love builds up.

The two figures in Paul’s sentence suggest a “puffball” and a “temple.” The first is showy, but light, empty, without solidness. A breath can blow it away. A child’s hand can crush it. The other is strong, substantial, beautiful, enduring. The work that knowledge

alone does in a life is not good work. It lacks cohesion, being flimsy, and insecure. Knowledge is good when love dominates it, vitalizes it, and uses it; but love must always be the real builder.

Life is full of illustrations of this truth. Without love, there is no true work on character. Knowledge alone does not give us the skill we need in order to bless others. We may know that a person is undeserving. We have helped him before, and nothing came of it. We know that nothing will come of any further help we may give. He deserves only to be thrust out and left to drift. That is what knowledge says. But, love comes in and says, “Give him another chance!” It overlooks his past falls and failures, and again extends a helping hand. No matter how often help has been given, to no purpose, it must be given again. Love says the man is a brother, and never should we give up on him. Perhaps he may yet repent and turn to God. There may be a spark remaining in the smoking lamp, and a breath may fan it into a flame. So love toils on untiring, never despairing, in obedience to the admonition not to “grow weary in well-doing.” It has its reward at last in a life saved for God…thus love builds up, where mere knowledge leaves a life to perish.

Knowledge alone is contemptuous, arrogant, stern, often cold and cruel. It has no patience with others’ faults, being intolerant of human infirmity, and treats mistakes of weakness or ignorance as crimes. It is relentless and unforgiving toward wrong. It sees the smallest mote in a brother’s eye, even while it carries a huge beam in its own. Its spirit is pharisaical and critical, without a trace of forbearance or Godly love, passing by on the other side of the sorest human needs, leaving no benediction as it marches through life. It tramples gentle hearts under its heavy tread. Its breath is like a winter’s blast as it blows over the tender things of life.

In stark contrast with knowledge, love walks along life’s ways with gentle step. Fragrant flowers grow in its path, and the air is always sweeter when it has passed by. It is kindly, thoughtful, pitiful, and compassionate. It has patience with human faults, and looks with an eye of tender love on those who have fallen. It is tolerant of others who, through weakness, err or turn aside. It is forbearing and long-suffering and meekly endures injury and wrong…seeing eagerly the good things in others with a wide cloak of charity for their sins. It is merciful, forgiving not 7 times only, but 70 times 7. Conscious of its own fault and evil, it is lenient toward the blemishes it sees in others. Let love and knowledge be knit together in this fashion.

Taken from Things To Live For by J. R. Miller