A lesson on eating food sacrificed to idols may not seem relatable, but there are people in this world who have to deal with this. Their families sacrifice animals to idols. What do they do?

Paul points out that an idol is nothing. It’s a hunk of wood or metal. He doesn’t see anything wrong with eating the food.

What he does see as wrong is hurting someone else by your actions. Our command is to love others.

If someone sees you eating food sacrificed to idols, they could think that Christians should eat food sacrificed to idols, not understanding your conviction that idols are nothing.

A missionary overseas was seen eating food made for dead people, out at the graves. It was a ritual of the unbelieving. We certainly felt that when he did that, he gave credence to the wrong practice of preparing food for dead people.

Our care is for each other. We need to think of others, not insist on our rightness and freedom in Christ.

Paul points out the difference between knowledge and love. Knowledge puffs up and love builds up. Knowledge falsely inflates ourselves, where love builds up others.

Our goal isn’t to know more and better than others, but to love others.

As for knowledge, Paul points out that if you think you know something, that’s your clue that you don’t know yet. Know you don’t know anything! Rely on God to lead you. Don’t trust your own knowledge and understanding. Don’t trust your reason. Whatever you are trusting in you are making your God!

Better than knowing is loving. The one who loves is known by God.