Recently I was watching some builders add an addition to my neighbor’s house. One of the windows was almost ground level.

I noticed they left it open as they went in and out of the structure during the workday and sometimes even overnight, so I wondered if cats could jump in or even skunks! Thankfully, I guess none of that happened, but it made me wonder what kind of builders these were!

I Corinthians 8 makes me wonder that about myself. What kind of builder am I? You see, we are all builders. We are careful to build ourselves up. We take care to make ourselves look good, both physically with makeup, latest hair cuts, and fashions and socially, by staying online with the correct comments on Snapchat, Instagram or, if we’re crafty, Pinterest. We are in the know!

But this passage doesn’t mention that kind of knowledge. It says, “Yes, we know that ‘we all have knowledge’ about this issue.” (In this case, they were debating what to do about meat offered to idols) “But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church” (I Corinthians 8:1 NLT).

Ouch! I want to be a builder in my church and the church worldwide! I want to build people up and help them to know God better. I thought the more I knew about God, the more I could share about my knowledge, and the better my building would be. But this passage says my knowledge isn’t the best building material.

In fact, it goes on to say, “Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much” (v. 2). Well, haven’t we found that to be true? No one really has all the answers, and those who say they do only kid themselves. Only God has all knowledge and wisdom.

So, should we throw out all learning and education? Heavens no! Get as much “study to show yourself approved” as you can get (II Timothy 2:15). But I think this piece of Scripture is saying that as we try to build, each piece of cinderblock wall or sheet of plywood must be fastened with the adhesive of love or it’s coming back down. V. 3 tells us, “But the person who loves God is one whom God recognizes.”

Even all the gifts given in chapter 12 of this same book -the power to do miracles, the ability to prophesy, to speak in tongues, to interpret tongues, and many more–all of these are each given to build up the church (v. 10). He gave us apostles, prophets, teachers, leaders, and more for the same purpose: to build up His church.

And yet, in chapter 13 Paul tells us if we try to use any of them without love, the church falls down. “Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!” (v. 8).

It seems it would be best for us to listen to God the Builder. Let’s use those wonderful gifts before they pass away, and let’s gain as much knowledge as we can. But let’s do it all in love so that no skunks of hatred and unkindness can crawl in the windows and destroy what God wants to build. Speak the truth, but speak it in love and in humility. Then God can add a second floor to a firm foundation that will last for generations.

Holly Pentz, New Covenant Assembly of God, 1270 Pinchtown Road, Montgomery