Tag Archives: intellect

October 17

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Mark 9:2-37; Matthew 17:1-23, 18:1-5; Luke 9:28-26, 37-48

As a person new to the world of blogging, I have enjoyed getting to know many people around the world through their written word. I have read heartfelt poetry, shared sorrows and joys, learned from some pretty incredible life experiences, and laughed out loud at some very funny blogs. I’ve been challenged and convicted, even angered at some of the things I’ve read. 

And I’ve been saddened.

I’ve stumbled upon the blogs of some pretty intellectual thinkers. Some look into God’s Word and research the history, dig deeper into the original text, and share their insights. And I’ve been stunned at the responses of some. Sometimes atheists or agnostics or people who have embraced other religions reply with their intellectual sounding arguments, demeaning faith, and speaking from a self-centered place of importance. To we who know the Truth, their rantings sound like foolishness, yet they wear a superior air that we understand is based on lies.

Earlier we read where Jesus expressed concern that some might be tripped up because of him. Here in the passage we read today he tells us that unless we become like children, we won’t enter his kingdom. 

Faith is not the absence of reason or intellect. God doesn’t ask us to quit thinking when we come to him. But he demands we humble ourselves, depend on him like a child – even an intelligent child – depends on his father. He asks us to trust him like a child trusts a parent. He asks us to recognize him as our Father, our Superior.

Jesus invites us to come to him, the only way to the Father. He asks us to leave ourselves at his feet, to believe he is who he says he is, and follow him according to his Word. He doesn’t ask us to leave our intellect behind. But he does demand we leave our egos.

May you not be so self-important, so intellectual, or so proud to go to Jesus on his terms. Like it or not you do not have all the answers. But he does. Don’t let the simplicity of his message trip you up.

June 7

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I Kings 11; Ecclesiastes 1-2

The wisest, richest, most productive, and most popular king that ever lived hated life. But before we talk about how Solomon was feeling, let’s look at some of the choices he had made.

I Kings 11 tells us Solomon had a weakness. He loved women. He married 700 of them and had sex with 300 more. And instead of insisting that these women worship Solomon’s God, he allowed them to continue to worship their idols. 

I can almost hear a Moabite wife, whispering to Solomon in a private moment saying: If you really loved me you’d join me as I pray to Chemosh.

And gradually Solomon began to take part in the worship of these false Gods. Verse six says Solomon did evil in God’s sight.

So Solomon did what mankind has been doing since the Garden. He tried to replace God. Ecclesiastes says he went on a mission to find happiness and spared no expense. 

The king started with what he already had… wisdom. And he tried to learn everything he could about everything he could think of. He hired the best science teachers, philosophers, historians. He studied hard. But in the end he had to admit that intellect, all the knowledge in the world is like chasing after the wind.

So he went on to something else. Fun. Solomon had the means to throw the best parties. And he did. He hired the best entertainment. He served the best food. He invited the rich and famous. He owned more gold, silver, livestock, land than anyone. He built gardens and parks and reservoirs. He denied himself nothing. If material gain and living to please yourself could bring happiness, Solomon would have been the happiest man ever.

But he wasn’t happy. He found out that “things” can’t satisfy  no matter how lavish. What does he say about his experiment with pleasures?

This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

We’re not done looking at Solomon’s quest for happiness and fulfillment. But I think God would ask us all to check our own pursuits. What is it I am working toward? What is it I am using to replace God in my life? Is it education or science? Is it living for the weekend, having things, being caught up in material possessions? If we are honest we will agree with Solomon. None of that is eternal. None of that can last. 

If we are pursuing education or pleasure as means of fulfillment we might as well try to case the wind.

Dear God, as we look at the book of Ecclesiastes I pray that we will do so with open hearts and minds. Some who read this may hate life like Solomon did. May each of us be ready to take inventory, to recognize those things we think are so important in our lives, and to measure them according to your standards. I pray you will use Solomon’s words to help us know where true happiness lies.