Arrogance

by | Dec 12, 2013 | random thoughts, Uncategorized

I have been thinking alot about knowledge lately.  Sometime it seems we try to use knowledge as a weapon or as something to hold over someone else. I know people that can’t seem to wait to get the inside scoop on a situation just so they can say they know about it.  Or to act as if somehow they know more about it than anyone else.  Some people even seek out to know more then others to the point of gossip because they have to know what is going on in a situation.  Interestingly enough these people never gain complete knowledge of a situation they merely gain what they want to know and hurl and cast their judgments from ignorance rathe than knowledge which seems odd when knowledge was apparently what they were seeking in the first place.  Not sure if this makes sense to anyone. 

This has become especially true over my circumstances in the recent weeks.  Though I have been through alot as well as my family I am amazed about what people think they know about my situation only because they heard something from someone else.  In reality these people know very little because they are acting on limited knowledge or in many cases ignorance.  Some even casting judgments or having preconceived thoughts without really knowing all of what has happened.

Tonight I read

1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.  If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

These verse are primarily dealing with christian liberty.  The Corinthians were faced with a huge dilemma and in reality they needed help.  Not much different then us they lived in the middle of a sinful and pleasure filled society so how were they to act.  The Corinthians needed guidance from the Apostle Paul could they eat meat offered to idol and what about social function what were they to do?  What restraints were put on the Christians liberty or freedom?  Could the Christian do whatever they wanted to do?  Is there a difference between the Christians behavior and the worlds?  It is with that backdrop that Paul is writing here in 1 Corinthians 8.  What I wan to talk about is this knowledge that Paul is talking about in the first 3 verses.

It seems to me what Paul is saying is to judge according to love not according to knowledge.  This strikes me as different because we usually do the opposite.  Paul states in the very first verse that “we all have knowledge”.  I am sure that some of the Corinthian believers were stressing the importance of using the intellect to determine right from wrong.  There are three very important points Paul gives us concerning knowledge in these verses.

1.  Knowledge makes arrogant but love edifies. 

I think the point is clear. Just because one can reason through the facts and clearly see something gives them no right to be arrogant about it.  Yet our quest for knowledge about circumstances and the like often is done so we can know more than another believer or so we can set someone straight.  The root of this is arrogance.  This is the very thing Paul is coming against. 

Paul is making it clear that the rule of all Christians is to be love not knowledge.  It is love that builds others up and helps them to grow not knowledge. The Christian is not to run around stressing their superiority because they know more than someone else.  We are to love and control our lives from love. 

2.  Paul tells us that knowledge is only partial.  

Here is the kicker no matter what someone thinks they know it is always incomplete.  We are totally incapable of knowing anything in its fullness or its totality.  Of course we like to think we know things but in reality we do not.  We often like to try to think rationally but the truth of the matter is to be rational is often weak especially when compared to thinking through things with love instead of rationally.  So the next time we think we know something or we think we know the whole story I would encourage you to stop and think again and react and be motivated from love rather than knowledge.

3.  Love unites us to God.

If someone loves God then that person is known by Him. Did you notice that we are not known by God because we are always thinking rationally.  It also does not say that we are known by God based on our knowledge.  It is based on one thing and that is our love.  God know us because we love Him.  The person that decides to base their life on love rather than knowledge that person is loved by God.  

“But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” (1 Corinthians 8:3)

I give this challenge the next time you seek knowledge about a circumstance or a situation try to seek love instead.  See if it makes a difference.  To often our knowledge leads to arrogance.  So much could be accomplished if we only sought love.

John Piper

by | Dec 12, 2013 | random thoughts

Came across this video a little while ago and really liked it.

Though I do not support Barak Obama I can’t say that I buy into the whole ideals that everything I am is wrapped up in the political process. I remember my Sunday School class discussin politics briefly and many people say they fear what will happen if Obama is elected. My question was and still is why? When i notion the fact that if Obama is president it is because God has allowed him to be people some how can not fathom such a thing. I would challenge those who believe in Jesus Christ to let their vote count but also let their life count. As usual I think John Piper has said it well in this short clip.

Today I decided to use two videos as my post. The first video is of John Piper I am sure most of you have already seen it but I wanted to share it anyway. Every-time I watch this video I am moved. Since we have been getting ready to move I have clamped down on money realizing I need to save as much as possible. I still could probably tighten down even more like cut off cable, and so forth. But I often think of how much I spend on different things and wonder how is this going to help me bring someone to Christ. Often I may be convicted about spending and justify it in my own mind as a need but it is usually a want. 

I grew up very poor. I can remember my mother working three jobs to support us and keep food in our stomachs. I remember going to the dump site to look for stuff. I can remember times not having anything new for Christmas I was satisfied with what I had. I think as time wheres on and we get more we spoil ourselves and become less satisfied with what we have. I think of how half the world lives on less then $2 a day and how we stand in line at buffets and throw food away, how we get upset without fast internet, etc., while in Haiti people are eating dirt.

Ill never forget the pictures a missionary friend of mine showed me of children from Haiti. I remember asking him why their hair was orange and he telling me it was because they were not getting nutrients. Some of the stories he shared I will never forget. Even when I grew up poor I was not really poor. I recently heard of a challenge where the church had challenged the people to live on nothing but beans and rice for a week and to take what they had saved and donate it to the poor. Maybe we can all learn from this. Anyway thanks John Piper for this video it makes you think, of the prosperity Gospel.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukcV-xtU3hc

The second video speaks of the affects of the fall of man. I have been often asked the question why is there suffering? Or why is there death and pain? The answer to say because of sin is usually not popular typically we want to water it down. But the truth is the truth. 

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned–(Romans 5:12)

I do not look around the world and wonder how it can be so messed up I know how it is because of sin. Why do we treat each other so poorly?  Because of sin sadly much of it is Christian on Christian. The first time I watched this video I cried. I was motivated what am I doing to share with the world the very hope that is found in Genesis. Yes we all have sinned but right after God pronounces his judgement he says this

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

This is known as “protoevangelium” or “first gospel” your big word for the day. Praise God that he had already planned the death of His son for our salvation. Please enjoy the video.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgs0EDlNv80

Pin It on Pinterest