Building One Another
LOVE BUILDS UP! Vol 11 No 21
October 17, 2012
Dear Friend,
In one of the great one-liners in the Bible the Apostle Paul wrote, “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up!” I Corinthians 8:1* It’s well worth repeating a dozen times out loud!
Knowledge can lead to a swelled head and love can lead to a swelled heart!
Of course Paul wasn’t opposed to knowledge. His own letters have much to say about the knowledge of God and the knowledge of our own selves. However, when on the basis of all that we know, we begin to pride ourselves above others, begin to think more of ourselves than others, we run the risk of using our knowledge to put people down rather than to build them up!
The King James Version of the Bible translates “builds up” as “edifies” (or edifieth). Edify is a great word! It means to instruct and improve others morally and spiritually. The word is related to the construction of a building – or what we call an “edifice.” The idea is that loves builds up other people in ways that will sustain and encourage their lives.
So to edify people is to strengthen them. Instead of holding your knowledge over others in a superior manner you place it under them, to strengthen them, support them, and build them up!
With joy - E. Stanley Ott