We spend our lives amassing knowledge. We take class after class, read book after book, we play trivia games, google information and attend seminars.We can't seem to get enough knowledge. And we are only too happy to share our wealth of information with the "less informed" around us. We think that we're doing the world a favor by sharing all we know and prodding along those who are "obviously misled."
However, it may be that we are misled if we are more willing to share our knowledge than our love. When is the last time you shared your opinion? When is the last time you truely helped someone in need? Where are your priorities?
What good is your knowledge if you've damaged the person you thought you were "helping"? This is all too often the case with Christians. We are called to exemplify Christ, but we love to know it all.
We insist that we are right and those who disagree with us are wrong. And often, we may indeed be right- but what's the point? We may believe we have doctrine and theology completely figured out. But Scripture doesn't say they will know we are Christians by our knowledge of doctrine, but rather by our love. If we tear apart another person, Christian or otherwise, for their "lesser knowledge" we are doing a huge disservice to the Savior who commands us to love.
The church is supposed to represent Christ. When we attack others in the church for disagreeing with us, when we name-call, gossip, or simply give the cold shoulder we are in direct violation of God's command for us to LOVE. It doesn't matter how right you think you are. But when we love one another despite our disagreements- when others can see the love of Christ in us, they are more likely to be willing to listen to our "knowledge" without being defensive.
It's hard to love those who disagree with us, (I don't mean "be nice to" or "smile to their face"- but really love. Really want the very best for that person. Listen instead of talking. Find things in common instead of focusing on the differences. Love them as Christ would have you to love them.) but we must work to learn how to do just that, with the same enthusiasm that we attempt to learn everything else.
The world is watching. Are we going to tear eachother apart in the name of knowledge or are we going to swallow our pride and show them a love far deeper than human understanding? "The greatest bit of knowledge is knowing how to love."
How can you show love to someone you disagree with today? How can you give to your church body expecting nothing in return? Try asking God to change you, rather than always asking Him to change them. None of us has reached perfection. We all have ways that we need to grow. Be respectful of the place in life that others find themselves in and realize that apart from the grace of God you are lost as well. You can always learn from those around you, even the most unlikely of individuals. If you fail to have the humility to see where you can learn in a relationship you have missed a great blessing.
Be less critical, smile more often, talk a little less, listen a little more, look for understanding rather than simple knowledge, apply Biblical truths rather than simply preaching them, be more concerned with the flaws in your own life than those in the lives of those around you, show the world the unconditional, overwhelming, undeserved love of Christ for "they will know we are Christians by our love."
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