"But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble... because of your superior knowledge..."— 1 Cor 8:9,11 (NLT)
My dear brothers and sisters, if we want to look at our life experiences, then this often happens: knowledgeable people tend to underestimate those who lack the knowledge. Knowledge is double-faced. It can build up and give something good, but it can also cause a person to become arrogant. Those who are knowledgeable sometimes become arrogant because they have a great access to enter the world of science.
In this passage, Paul criticized this arrogant attitude. We can say that a person has true knowledge if he or she can use knowledge for the good of others. So, if someone says that he or she has knowledge but does not make a good contribution to others, it means that person is arrogant and does not have true knowledge and wisdom. He or she is like an empty barrel that makes a loud sound.
For Paul, believers was not sufficient to have knowledge but that knowledge must be accompanied by love. Because those who love God will not use their knowledge to destroy others. Paul gave the example of eating idols' offerings. He said that food does not bring us closer to God. Whether it's eaten or not, we have nothing to lose. But the obstacle was in the use of knowledge and freedom itself. Paul advised that freedom should not become a stumbling block to others who were weak. Don't let the weak perish because of that knowledge.
God desires that we have knowledge. However, knowledge must go hand in hand with love. Love always builds and cares for others. Love becomes the fence for every action that knowledge produces. Love is the crown of knowledge.
Brothers and sisters, the knowledge we have is a gift from God. The main problem now lies in its management which always involves love. Does the knowledge we have become a stumbling block or a means to manifest love for others? Let us ask for wisdom from God, that he will teach us to manage knowledge with love to help others and glorify his name. Amen.
Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8: 7 – 13 by Fr. Risco Batbual, SVD
(Listen to the Podcast here)
No comments:
Post a Comment