1 Corinthians 8:2
Ps Paul Cheng
~2 min read
Dear Bethelities,
A knowledge of God’s Word alone is essential, but knowledge alone is not enough if it is not coupled with love. To have love and no knowledge is unfortunate, but to have knowledge and no love is equally tragic. The Apostle Paul went on to say, And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know (v.2).
II. A proud heart knoweth nothing
A proud man may know less than he thinks! Have you ever heard someone say to you, “I know. I understand. I don’t need to be taught. Tell me something I do not know”? When a person has the mindset and attitude that he knows everything, and loses that humble and teachable spirit of a learner, he is on the wrong track.
Dear friend, are you someone who thinks you know everything? Are you someone who thinks that you have a vast knowledge of many things, and you feel that no one can teach you anything for you do not need to be taught anymore? If that is the case, then humility is something that you do not know. Even if you “really” have great knowledge, without humility, you will cease in your pursuit for knowledge.
There is nothing wrong with going around teaching and encouraging others according to the Word of God. As believers, we ought to do that. But there are some people who have a holier-than-thou attitude, a know-it-all attitude, or a I-don’t-need-to-be-taught attitude. They just loved to correct people.
Again, Paul was not against knowledge, for it is good, essential and extremely important. It was the thinking, imagination and prideful attitude that one knows everything that he was speaking against; the reality was that such a person knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
If a man has true knowledge, then he will be conscious of how much he does not know. The more he learns, the more he will recognise how little he knows and he needs to learn even more. The more God teaches him, the more he will recognise that he is lacking in his knowledge. The more he knows, there will always be this insatiable desire to want to know more, and it will cause him to look to God, “Lord, teach me. Help me. I need to grow in my knowledge.”
What kind of attitude do you have? Are you someone who thinks you know everything, or are you someone who has the humble and teachable spirit of a learner? Do you think God does not know the attitude of our hearts? Do you think God does not know why we do not want to attend the Bible study to learn together with the other believers? Do you think God does not know that every time we listen to the preacher, we are thinking in your heart, “Tell me something I do not know”? God says, And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
(To be continued in the next pastoral chat)
1 CORINTHIANS 8Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 1)Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 1)1 Corinthians 8:1-4, 8
Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 2)Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 2)1 Corinthians 8:2
Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 3)Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 3)1 Corinthians 8:3
Love and Christian Liberty (Part 1)Love and Christian Liberty (Part 1)1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Love and Christian Liberty (Part 2)Love and Christian Liberty (Part 2)1 Corinthians 8:7-13