Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (ESV)
The context of this verse is a discussion the Corinthian believers were having about food offered to idols. While some believers in the Corinthian church were scrupulous about what they bought, checking whether or not it had been used in any sacrificial ritual, others, dispelled of all their previous heathen beliefs, bought meat without caring whence it came.
What is essential here is our intent. If I knowingly disobey the Word of God, then that issue needs to be addressed. If I do or say something that I know will cause another believer to stumble, that too must be dealt with. But if my actions are pure and well-intentioned, there is room for forbearance and mercy.
Paul urged the believers in Ephesus to ‘speak the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15). Our words and actions must first be filtered through a heart governed by love. Our minds and hearts need to err on the side of love as much as possible.
Prayer: Lord, may love always be at the center of my interactions with others. Give me a humble heart and a love that builds others up rather than a know-it-all attitude so that you might be glorified in all things. Amen.
Thought: “The ultimate form of love is choosing the best interests of another regardless of how it affects us.” – Tim Tebow