Do We Really Know What We're Talking About?

Scripture Verse that Caught my attention Today: Job 35:1-2 Elihu continued and said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
You say, ‘I am in the right before God.’

Observation: Elihu, at times, seems to make good sense. But later in this book he ends up chastised by God. His efforts to make sense of the world are revealed to be futile.

Application: To me the above observation begs the question: “Do any of us really know what we’re talking about?

Seriously, we as human beings are so prone to pomp and posturing. We have opinions on just about everything. We can argue/discuss till we’re blue in the face about any number of issues. But do we really have a clue about what we’re talking about? (By the way, this question is as appropriate to ask myself as it is to ask anyone else.)

I’ve always been struck by the line out of the 1 Corinthian passage for today: “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Why is it so easy to devote our attention to the former when what is so often lacking is the latter?

True, sometimes it takes a certain amount of knowledge to know how best to love. But too often that’s nothing but a cop-out for the real act of loving…the look-me-in-the-eye and be-moved-by-me kind of experience that inspires one to learn more and more about how to love rather than using our pursuit of ‘knowledge’ as an excuse to insulate ourselves from those who may in fact need love the most.

Prayer: Dear God, the opening question still remains: “Do we really know what we’re talking about?” I pray that you might indeed help us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture readings today included: Job 35-36 and 1 Corinthians 7-8)