Know To Edify

Let’s talk about knowledge a little bit today. We can start out this short discussion with a really good scripture from the apostle Peter: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Pet. 3:18). That’s about as pointed as it gets. It’s good to increase our knowledge, “OF our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” that is. Most everyone who names the name of Christ believes they are doing this, and yet almost everyone differs on the ‘knowledge’ they are gaining. Hmmm, so how do we know if we are actually gaining the true knowledge of Jesus Christ? The apostle Paul addressed this issue with simplicity: “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but [love] edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know” (I Cor. 8:1,2). What was the apostle trying to get across here? It’s simple, he was merely saying that if we are not learning how to love everyone more freely with our hearts pure from pride and contention, and if we aren’t learning how to further edify those around us; then WE AREN’T LEARNING, PERIOD! If proving our point is more important to us than how we are effecting the spirits of those around us, I’ve got news: We know nothing yet as we ought to know. If we are upset that someone just won’t see it our way, we know nothing yet as we ought to know. If we secretly relish the idea that ywe know more than other people, we know nothing yet as we ought to know. Godly love does not have an overbearing nature, and if we come across that way when we’re trying to get our point across to someone, then we haven’t learned much about love. As an old song says, ♫ You know nothing till you’ve known the love of God. ♫ The love and wisdom of God, above all things knows how to edify. And in knowing how to edify, it also knows how to NOT be UNEDIFYING!

The scripture tells us that one day “knowledge will vanish away,” as well as spiritual gifts (I Cor. 13:8). But love? That’s all that will be left in that day, and if we don’t learn how to be really good at it, we simply won’t be there. James put it down just like it goes when it comes to the true knowledge and wisdom of God: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (Jas. 3:17). Knowing things will not take us to the glory world, but knowing how to not be offensive will. Jesus told us with simplicity how we need to be: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Mat. 10:16). Note how he said that being harmless goes hand in hand with being wise. There is a good reason that the scripture tells us, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit” (Prov. 17:27). Reason being that often times the most edifying thing we can say is nothing at all. Godly love is quite content with saying nothing, though it know much; when that is what will be most edifying. There’s also a good reason that the scripture tells us these things: “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (Prov. 26:12). And, “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (Prov. 29:20). Those are some sobering admonitions, and it’s certain that we don’t want to be guilty of having these kinds of traits. If we are then we need to repent and learn something of worth, like how to edify. It is a very good feeling to know that you don’t have to say anything, and that you don’t have to reprove everything, when that’s what’s in order. God wants us to learn how to do just enough and say just enough to give him space to work with people. If we try to do his part too, then we will only be in his way, and in the way of everyone around us; while believing we are being wise. If we aren’t learning how to be edifying, and how to NOT be unedifying, then we know nothing yet as we ought to know. Amen.