The Pursuit of Knowledge: A Caution

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 8:1

The love of God is my greatest possession. No right of mine— no Christian privilege— should ever elevate itself above the joy of knowing I am loved by God.

Knowledge inflates me. Love shapes me.

Knowledge makes me proud. Love makes me able.

Knowledge delights in accumulating. Love delights in communing.

Knowledge conceits. Love develops.

Knowledge boasts in the tools. Love builds the house.

If my knowledge of God, or my knowledge of the Christian life, does not lead me to love Him supremely and love others deeply then I am just an inflated, proud, conceited, contented-consumer of a Christian. And I would say, I know nothing at all.

But if anyone loves God, He is known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:3).

Do you rejoice over this? Or do you find more satisfaction in knowing things about God? Is this what amazes you, excites you, and causes you to serve Him? Being known by God. What a thought. What a revolutionary truth to embrace. What a thing to know!