Love and Humility Exceed Being Right
Living Like Jesus Series
We live in a world of hype and hubris, where people want everyone else to know that they are “right!” The desire to be right is extremely powerful. It can fuel arguments, create division, separate friends and family, and overshadow the core virtues of love and humility. As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard—one that sometimes means setting aside our need to prove our point to others and act with grace, love, and humility.
A compelling biblical foundation for this perspective is 1 Corinthians 8, where the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. Here, the focus is on the personal liberty we have in Christ and how to live out that liberty. In our personal liberty, we can know that we are “right,” but we do not necessarily have to prove we are right at the expense of another person’s spiritual well-being.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
To fully understand Paul’s argument, we need to look at all thirteen verses of the chapter.
[1] Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that "we all have knowledge" about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. [2] Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. [3] But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. [4] So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. [5] There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords.
[6] But for us,
There is one God, the Father,
by whom all things were created, and for whom we live.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.[7] However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. [8] It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't lose anything if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do.
[9] But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. [10] For if others see you-with your "superior knowledge"-eating in the temple of an idol, won't they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? [11] So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.
[12] And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. [13] So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live-for I don't want to cause another believer to stumble.
— 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 NLT (emphasis mine)
The context of this passage is strange to most of us. We do not live in a culture where sacrificing meat to idols is prevalent. However, for the Corinthian church, this practice was all around them. Many of the Corinthian believers knew that idols were powerless and that eating meat sacrificed to idols was not necessarily wrong. However, some believers with less knowledge and weaker consciences felt that participating in such meals compromised their faith. They believed that lesser gods (idols) were real, and eating meat that had been sacrificed to them would, in some way, be considered a form of worship to that idol.
The stronger, more informed believers were confident in their knowledge and believed they had the liberty to eat without consequence. In verses 1-3, Paul begins by acknowledging that “…we know that ‘we all have knowledge’ about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.” Regardless of how knowledgeable we are, how well we understand scripture, or how accurate our doctrine, love surpasses knowledge.
The Lesson of Love Over Argument
In verses 4-13, Paul addresses how the knowledge of the stronger believers should not lead them to despise or be a stumbling block to the weaker believers. He emphasizes that even if something is permissible, it does not mean it is beneficial for everyone. Verse 9 is particularly striking: “But take care that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”
Paul’s approach is not about proving that the more mature believers are correct or that their liberty is more valid; rather, his counsel is to prioritize love and unity over personal rights.
Other Scriptures Supporting the Principle
The idea that we do not have to prove we are right, especially at the expense of love and humility, is echoed throughout scripture. Here are just a few verses that support the idea.
Romans 14:1-23: Here Paul addresses similar issues of disputable matters, urging believers to accept those with differing understanding and to avoid causing others to stumble.
Ephesians 4:2-3: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humility is central to our relationship with God and others.
The Danger of Prioritizing Being Right
Because of our fallen nature, we have a deep desire to be right. However, defending one’s position vehemently can lead to broken relationships and diminish our witness. When the need to prove oneself right outweighs Christ-like love, we risk becoming stumbling blocks rather than building blocks - building others up and striving for unity among Believers. In the first three verses of Ephesians, Paul reinforces this concept.
[1] Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
— Ephesians 4:1-3,8 CSB
Often attributed to the great theologian Augustine, the following well-known adage has been used to reinforce this concept. The saying actually comes from a German Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century, Rupertus Meldenius.
In essentials unity,
In non-essentials, liberty.
In all things, charity.
The problem is that people often separate one part of this saying and focus on it alone. We need to act in all three ways. Our insisting on our liberty in non-essentials can override the charity (love) we should show everyone. The same can happen when we make non-essentials essential.
What the Apostle Paul is saying is that our ultimate goal is not to win intellectual battles but to maintain unity in the body of Christ. His words challenge us to ask: “Do love and humility drive my words and actions, or do they come from my desire to be right?” This does not mean that we accept everything that comes along. Biblical principles need to be upheld. We need to adhere to doctrinal and lifestyle essentials from the Word of God. However, we need to be careful not to equate “our” essentials with biblical essentials. We dare not “read into” the Bible something that is not there, and likewise, “read out” of the Bible something that is there.
Practical Applications in Daily Life
How do we live out this biblical admonition from the Apostle Paul? Here are a few suggestions, with the caveat that we can accept a person’s beliefs without agreeing with them. In non-essentials, we are to promote liberty, and in all things we are to act with love, grace, and humility.
Listen more than you speak: Seek to understand others’ perspectives rather than trying to defend your own. There are many things that we can argue over that are not binary (i.e., one person is right and the other is wrong). James reinforces this when he says, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” - James 1:19 NLT.
Prioritize relationships over proving you are right: Sometimes, stepping back from an argument demonstrates Christ’s love and preserves the relationship.
Admit ignorance or uncertainty: We want to have the answers! However, it is okay to say, “I do not know.” Also, suggesting “Let’s pray about this” shows the other person(s) that you are more serious about what God wants than being right.
Focus on your common ground: Assuming that the disagreement is with another Believer, focus on your common relationship with Jesus. Emphasize your shared faith rather than differences.
Be willing to sacrifice personal rights: We live in a country where personal rights are highly valued. However, our example, Jesus, sacrificed His divine rights for our salvation. He has called us to surrender our rights for the sake of love and unity.
The Power of Love in Action
The world desperately needs to see Christians who live out love. Jesus said that we will be known by our love for one another (John 13:35). When Believers choose humility over pride, when they prioritize love over winning arguments, they reflect Christ.
Embracing humility and choosing love over the need to prove ourselves is a mark of spiritual maturity. It is an opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love, patience, and understanding. When we prioritize relationship over being right, we become more effective witnesses of the Gospel and reflect the heart of Jesus. Let us, as His followers, strive to follow His example—living humbly, extending grace, and expressing love, so that our lives may honor God and bring glory to His name.