1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
An idol is an image of worship, a false god. Flesh was offered to idols and the leftovers were sold to the poor. Once again, Paul speaks of the importance of Love and knowing Our Heavenly Father. We are to set aside anything that might cause us to place our focus in the form of worship. Additionally, we should not present sacrifices to an idol.
When a person exalts another person, place, or thing above Our Heavenly Father, his or her focus and resources are expended on that idol. The resources to enable us to serve mankind begin to be depleted. I have seen men in the past attempt to align themselves with the wealthy. In order to “hang out” with the wealthy, they must travel in the same circles, drive similar cars, and eat at the same restaurants. The only thing that happens is they deplete their resources, go into debt, and have no true relationship with the people they are trying to impress. The wealthy are not moved by those who want to align themselves with them. Instead, they will often exploit them and utilize them for their own agendas. The final result is emptiness and debt.
The ego wants to be exalted. Gaining knowledge can be used as a means to exalt oneself over others. Those who continue to seek higher education with no true return on time and money invested have a need to feed the ego to exalt themselves over others. Obtaining a doctorate in a particular field that provides no additional benefit in your vocation is simply an attempt to appear superior to others. This is being puffed up.
Love builds other people up rather than belittling them by presenting yourself as superior. Love’s intent is to strengthen the weak and the weary. Love does not promote misbehavior by the weak but instead instructs the weak to move on past those things that prevent the weak from maturing.
Each of us should assess our focus. We must be careful and avoid exalting someone above Our Heavenly Father. Just because someone has exceptional knowledge of a subject or discipline, they are no important to Our Heavenly Father than the man or woman struggling to make ends meet. Knowledge without Love is worth nothing in the long run. In the end, it is all about Love. If you walk in Love and focus on ministering in Love, you will be known by HIM. As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.