THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Matthew 11:25-26

“… but charity edifieth.”

LOVE EDIFIES

The proud spirit of the Corinthian Christians must be replaced by love. The term “edifieth” (oikodomei, 1 Cor 8:1) carries the idea of building a structure brick by brick. Pride is destructive, but love is constructive. Pride seeks to put down others, but love will seek the spiritual good of others. He will desire to see his brethren built up in the most holy faith.

True spiritual knowledge will manifest itself in love and not pride. The spiritual man will (1) love God and His Word, and (2) love man. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt 22:37-40).

The lack of love among the Corinthian Christians caused some to be lax concerning food offered to idols. First, their lack of love for God resulted in their disregard of the ill witness for Christ that arose from eating such food. Second, their lack of love for the brethren caused them not to consider how their actions might stumble others. Therefore, they had to come back to the right motive for service: to serve God and man constrained by the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:14).

Paul added: “But if any man love God, the same is known of him” (1 Cor 8:3). Herein is a great comfort to us that God never forsakes those who love Him. It is, however, also a reminder that those who are truly known of God will manifest love in their lives.

Is the love of Christ seen in your life?

THOUGHT: Knowledge must be applied in love.
PRAYER: Father, teach me to love Thee and my fellow men.