I had just started my first year of Bible college and was driving back from Maula Prison, where I had gone to interpret from English to Chichewa for my professor, O. Palmer Robertson, who preached there every Thursday afternoon.
He asked me what I was appreciating most about Bible college, and I immediately replied, “The knowledge of Scripture I am gaining every day.”
Smiling, he replied, “But remember, knowledge puffs up… with knowledge, also cultivate a great love for Christ.” He was quoting from 1 Corinthians 8:1, “This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
Ever since then, this has stuck with me.
The world does not lack knowledge. There is so much information out there now, and we can easily acquire it at our fingertips. Whether all that knowledge is helpful or not is a topic for another day.
Yet, for God’s people, what we need alongside the knowledge of Scripture is a deep love for Christ—the fountain of all true knowledge—and a love for Christ’s church, which is His own body that He died for.
The Puritans used to highlight that knowledge should enter through the head, trickle down to the heart, and translate into the hands for good works. Knowledge that trickles down to the heart can hardly be puffed up. It’s only when knowledge stops with the head that it breeds self-conceit.
A great reminder. It really is true. Our love of Christ is the core of what we are if we are his. When I was an atheist, I did not like people. I had lots of knowledge, but no love for my neighbor. Why should I have that love if I don’t have God, if I am not yet his. Of course, I am sure that he had elected me and I slowly was drawn to him, but even as a young Christian, my attitude to strangers was not love. I was indifferent. Why? Because I was just learning to love Christ. I appreciated him, but I didn’t really know how to follow him. But as I grew in knowing Christ, knowing the Word, I grew in love for him. Now, after almost 50 years of faith, I believe that I do love people, not perfectly, for sure, but love them enough to want to help them know the truth. Love for Christ IS the foundation and, as you said, fountain, of true knowledge.
Thank you so much, Bill. I always appreciate you reading these points, leaving comments, and even sharing thoughts that I should ponder on even more. It’s truly a blessing, brother.