Love Builds Up

Job 35, 36; 1 Corinthians 7-8

“’Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.’”

Job 36:4

“…Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.”

1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden because they disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Mankind has set themselves up as their own moral authority ever since justifying sinful behaviors that God hates. When we claim to know better than God, we stumble in pride. Elihu claimed 20/20 insight into Job’s circumstances; yet he quickly discovered how inadequate his perspective was as God thundered, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) Our response to discerning sin must come from our love for God and others, and before knowledge.

Where is God inviting us to grow in love?

“Lord Jesus, thank you for your model of sacrificial love rather than condemnation, for your glory.”