The book of First Corinthians is a letter to a church in conflict. Opinions and historical teachings and beliefs are clashing. Most of them bad, many of them wrong.
Almost like a business that says: “we do it this way because we have always done it this way!” But Paul makes a simple yet profound statement:
“We all possess knowledge” (first he acknowledges that we all have training in a specific area… or at the very least opinions)
“Those who think they know something Do not yet know as they ought to know.”
(1 Corinthians 8:2)
I used to think that it is a statement describing a shortage. We are still learning, we are still in training, and we are still students, but we will come to a point of perfection…
But I have come to realise that it’s actually a mindset. As soon as you fall into the trap of thinking that you have the answer to anything, it means you stopped thinking about it.
You have effectively blocked any opportunity to discover anything new!
Paul leaves us with a little decision-making nugget: “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up”
(1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV)
Obviously, knowledge is not bad or evil, but something interesting happens when you keep that idea at the top of your mind. How would your decision tree change?
One way, our old way, we will solve a problem (like we always did…) but there might be a way that we could do it where we also care for the team (or community or environment, or our clients)?
Or … more personal…
The person in front of me… they have a story. Their way of doing things were shaped over time. Right or wrong, God loves them beyond my comprehension… will my “knowledge” puff me up into useless righteousness? Or can I adjust into a posture of Love? Look past what irks me and see them with the Father’s eyes?
Because if I can, I can take control of my mind and more importantly, ensure an openness for the Holy Spirit to speak, making me a vessel, a voice and a tool for good, instead of an impediment and an obstacle.
Be blessed and be a blessing to someone today!
