No Puff Daddy

1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3But whoever loves God is known by God.

Thoughts: A puffer fish is not really that big, but when it sees a bigger fish come, it puffs itself up to look big.  It is poisonous, ugly, and when blown up has spines around it.  Knowledge puffs up.  Knowledge can make us proud and make us think we're bigger than we really are and more meaningful than others. Knowledge, we think, can make us look good- but when it turns to pride it really is poisonous to relationships.  Love, on the other hand (not sexual love but agape unconditional love) is more interested in others.  As such it builds up relationships and builds us up too- giving us confidence and hope.
     So Paul is saying to be humble about religious rules (like eating food sacrificed to idols).  We should always hold the truth in humility.  The more we know, the more we know we don't know.  The more we learn about God, the more mysterious He becomes.  The more we delve into the surface of God the more we open the door to eternity.  Knowledge can reveal that we do not know God.  But we do not know God by the information we have but by the love we have.  Similarly, I do not know my brother because I know exactly how much he weighs, the exact food he has eaten and places he has been.  If I have informational knowledge via a google satellite and search that is not the same as knowing my brother because I love him.  We do not know God by our knowledge and the rules we think He requires, but by loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Prayer: Lord, keep me from being puffed up with my own knowledge.  Instead, Help me to love you more and more.