The Greatest Knowledge

As I read 1 Cor. 8:1-13, I recognize that the word knowledge, or its root, is used ten times. There is a knowledge embraced by all those in the Corinthian church: that of food sacrificed to idols. Some folks could not eat this food due to its negative impact upon their seared conscience. Then there is a greater knowledge: knowing that there is really only one God, the Father, who is the One for whom all things were created and for whom they exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we exist. This is a great knowledge that should relieve our conscience when eating foods that really have no ultimate impact upon our relationship with God. There is yet a greatest knowledge: for God to know us. In vv. 1-3 we read that 'knowledge puffs up, but love (agape love) builds up." We also read that anyone who loves God is known by him, and then in the rest of the chapter Paul goes on to challenge us not to take for granted the weakness of some of our brothers and sisters in faith. Even though we are free in Christ, to do some things might cause a weaker believer to stumble.
It is in the love of God and love of brother or sister in Christ, and the exercise thereof, that God gets to know us!
Matt. 7:21-23, "No everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?/ Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers."
So here is the question for you and me: how well does God know us? Only as well as we are practicing unconditional love for Other/others. It is in this act of loving and giving ourselves away that God knows us. John 17:3 reads this way, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Is our knowledge great, greater, or greatest? When it becomes greatest, we stop trying to be so smart and imagine that we really know anything. What matters is being known, known by God and Jesus Christ!
Dr. Fitz