Knowledge and Love

   Knowledge is important.  Regardless of what we do in life we need to have the knowledge of how it is to be done.  Schools, colleges, training programs all exist for the sole purpose of providing the knowledge needed to be successful in our chosen field.  Without obtaining the necessary learning success isn’t possible.

  Those who have gained great knowledge may have the technical skills for success but there are other skills needed as well.  We could call those the soft skills.  They are the ability to implement the knowledge gained in the most effective manner.   The ability to manage the business is important but so is the ability to motivate others to give their best efforts to make it a success.  A lack of the soft skills can seriously limit the chances of success in any endeavor.

   For a long time I thought that the path to a greater faith was greater knowledge.  Knowledge is important to better understand why we believe what we believe.  We need to study the scriptures and the teachings of the Church if we are to fully practice our faith.  Faith based on habit or the fact that “we’ve always done this” is limiting in many ways.  Knowledge can provide a much deeper personal faith experience.

   However, I’ve found that knowledge in faith is like knowledge in any other field.  Without the soft skills success is limited.  The soft skills of faith can be summed up in one word; Love.  If we have love we have the ability to deepen our faith and grow our relationship with God.  If we have love we have compassion and caring.  If we have love we truly desire what is best for others.  We may be able to make a good argument for our faith based on knowledge but the love with which we live our faith is what makes us good evangelists.  Without it we are an empty shell filled with facts and figures.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”  (1 Cor 13: 1-2)