For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (1 Corinthians 3:19-20)
In college, I was enamored with various philosophies. My friends and I would stay up half the night discussing and debating the merits of this thinker or that. We thought we were so smart.
Now that I’m older, I realize how little I knew (and know). As I prayerfully read Scripture and carefully listen to people, I am consistently humbled. I regret my past (and sometimes present) intellectual arrogance.
The words of John Calvin put me in my place –
"There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence.”
Sometimes we can be too smart for our own good (and the good of others).
Showing posts with label Intelligence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Intelligence. Show all posts
Monday, March 19, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Knowledge & Love
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
I’ve known a lot of very smart people in my life. I had a friend in high school who got straight A’s even though he never listened in class. He was too busy reading Greek philosophy. I had a physics professor in college who knew 7 languages (including Sanskrit). I had a professor in seminary who not only taught theology, but had a thriving law practice.
As smart as these people were and as much as I admired them, they did not have as much as an impact on my life as people who simply shared the love of Christ with me, no matter how worldly wise they were.
St. Thomas Aquinas, who is himself considered perhaps the greatest Christian philosopher in history, put it well --
“Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.”
I’ve known a lot of very smart people in my life. I had a friend in high school who got straight A’s even though he never listened in class. He was too busy reading Greek philosophy. I had a physics professor in college who knew 7 languages (including Sanskrit). I had a professor in seminary who not only taught theology, but had a thriving law practice.
As smart as these people were and as much as I admired them, they did not have as much as an impact on my life as people who simply shared the love of Christ with me, no matter how worldly wise they were.
St. Thomas Aquinas, who is himself considered perhaps the greatest Christian philosopher in history, put it well --
“Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.”
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