Epiphany 5 – Feb. 1, 2015 – 1 Cor. 8:1-13 “Knowledge Or Love?”

Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Cor. 8. We begin with prayer.

Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:

You are all probably aware that we are living in the information age. Information has always been hugely valuable, and we have been encouraging people to get as much education as possible for a long time now. We are still concerned about the effectiveness of our schools and how we can facilitate even more people getting a college education. It is unlikely that this emphasis will wane in the foreseeable future.
Knowledge is valuable in many practical ways – knowing how to get things done or how to fix things. Knowledge is also valuable in being able to predict how things are going to turn out. This helps us to get on the most advantageous side of trends.
Because knowledge is of such value, sinful human beings use the acquisition and possession of knowledge in some rather dreadful ways. In some cases knowledge is used directly for immoral and shameful purposes – for example, with abortion, or with chemical weapons. Often, knowledge is used for selfish purposes – and often without regard for those who lack knowledge, simply to enrich ourselves. We take advantage of what we know and others do not know to enrich ourselves. So the well-known axiom: “Caveat emptor” – let the buyer beware. And often knowledge is used, as Paul notes in our text, for the sake of pride and arrogance – to puff up and put down others, and even to manipulate and enslave others.
In all of these things “knowledge” functions directly against “love” – for love always takes others into consideration, and seeks as one’s highest priority, the good and welfare of others. Love is the opposite of selfishness and pride and the demeaning of others. And so our text urges us to consider what is most important to us – “KNOWLEDGE OR LOVE?” And of course, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an “either/or” – for the most blessed use of knowledge is in the service of love. And perhaps in our own time in history it is more than ever the case that:

I. Everyone Knows And Wants To Know More – At Least For The Sake Of Gaining More Power, Advantage Over Others, And As A Basis For Pride

Text: “We know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’”

A. But Sadly, The Kind Of Knowledge We Possess And What We Want More Of Often Serves Only To Puff Us Up

Text: “This ‘knowledge’ puffs up.”

B. And Ironically, Much Of Our “Knowledge” Only Obscures, At Least To Foolish People, How Incomplete Our Knowledge Really Is

Text: “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.”

1 Cor. 13:8-10,12 “As for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. . . . For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. “

Statement: It is a sad and blinding aspect of knowledge – as it is processed and acquired by fallen, sinful human beings, that it tends toward myopia and foolishness, and then ends up as a basis for selfishness, pride, arrogance, and even greater wickedness. Once a person “knows” something – even if, or perhaps especially if it is extraordinarily complex and difficult – we tend to assume that we have come to know virtually “everything.” This occurs over and over again in medicine and technology, and also in theology and philosophy, in virtually every arena of human knowing. What we do is focus on what is apparent and ignore what remains “mysterious” – we virtually ignore it away. And if we then become “doctrinaire” we lose the possibility of gaining scope and learning more; we become enmeshed and blinded in partial knowledge which may in fact be gross ignorance.

Application: This does not mean that knowledge is evil – but rather highlights the evil of our fallen sinful nature, and how even blessed knowledge is perverted and pressed into the service of our selfishness and malice. This is the sin which Christ came to pay for with His life – His suffering, blood, and death under God’s wrath. Our text, this Word of God from the apostle Paul, calls us to consider this – and to contemplate how we too have allowed “knowledge” to puff us up, and how we have used our knowledge to selfishly benefit ourselves and to hurt and harm others. He does this so that we may return to love, especially to God’s great love for us, and to take refuge under His gracious mercy, clemency, and patience. Yes, for all of this Christ suffered and died, and it is part of the sin that Christ has atoned for and taken away – thanks and praise be to God.

Transition: And if we understand these things, this will not diminish our desire for knowledge – for truly knowing, but it will make us aware of the most important knowledge we can have – and that is to love, for:

II. In Reality, It Is Love That Truly Empowers – Not In A Worldly Way, But In A Godly Way

Text: “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. . . . although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth – as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” – yet for us there is one God, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist.”

Statement: What is our knowing but a reflection of God’s knowing, and a sharing of consciousness by which we may know Him and His great love for us! And we certainly are not going to catch up with Him in knowledge and surpass Him; but He has blessed us to know at least somewhat, to know His love so that we may come to love Him. And this is a blessedness far greater than we can imagine – that we are actually known by God – and of course loved by God!

Application: Such knowledge of God and His love changes us – so that we are no longer committed to figuring out how we may get “the lion’s share” and have more than others, or how we can make them feel inferior and dominate them – setting ourselves up as little “gods” and “lords.” No, the knowledge of God’s love moves us to not do anything whatsoever to make a brother or sister stumble! Our full commitment is to them, to their good and welfare – even if this feels demeaning to us, and even when others are taking advantage of our love – for their own selfish and prideful purposes.

Transition: It is difficult to imagine what could have the power to change human beings in this manner – as we look out upon the world at large and as we reflect upon our own personal interactions with people in this world. But we can begin to at least have a glimmer of what God intended for human life and being – and “know” that such love is far superior to what loveless human beings do with knowledge! And so we can learn that:

III. We Should Strive To Know, And Especially To Grow In Our Knowledge Of Love, But Also To Always Put All Of Our Knowledge In The Service Of Love For Others

Text: “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

Statement: This simple statement in regard to “meat” is to be extended to all aspects of our being and behaving, including perhaps most importantly our “knowing.” The point is really the purpose of human life and being, and the purpose of everything we do, including the acquisition, use, and conveying of our knowledge. In the end, it is all about love, the selfless, generous, gracious, providing, forgiving love that God has for us – and whether we will allow the experience of His love to power a similar love within us. If this happens – as this happens – we turn away from the sinful, wicked, selfish, and destructive behaviors which are so common and acceptable in the fallen world around us, and become “godly,” like God in our being and behavior toward others.

Application: This is an “ambition” that runs directly in the face of the ambitions we are generally encouraged to embrace and live by. It is not a “knowledge” that puffs up, but rather one that humbles and makes gentle. And it is a “knowledge” or wisdom that provides us with ongoing growth in perspective, scope, and vision – so that we remain humbly aware of all that we do not know, and yet growing in what is true knowledge and wisdom. Most importantly, it connects us more fully and integrally with God – the One God, the Father, and the One Lord Jesus Christ, the great King and Lord of the entire universe! And this is real and genuine blessedness!

Conclusion: It is “Superbowl” Sunday today – and the divergence of worship versus the ambitions involved in modern day “sports” makes it difficult to draw any real godly parallels. For sports today to a large degree reflect the fallen and sinful dynamics of the acquisition of knowledge – the purpose is wealth, selfishness, pride, self-elevation, and “bragging rights.” Whatever good will sports used to bring is difficult to find now that they have become “big business.” Yet we take it all in stride, and breath it in as the norm, and fail to see any wrong – for it is too close of a parallel to what is inside of us.

There is much better out there for us – in a growing knowledge of God’s love and His will that we come to love as He loves us. May He grant us such knowledge and love in ever growing abundance. Amen.