Posted by Dena on March 11, 2003, at 14:08:19
In reply to Re: Tolstoi or y, posted by Dinah on March 11, 2003, at 8:01:22
Hi Dinah -
I agree with what you wrote. Let me clarify. I also believe that intelligence is a great God-given gift. You said yourself, "Used properly it has brought immense advances to mankind." But it can also be a stumbling block. The key is to use it properly. I believe that all gifts that God gives need to be used in submission to Him. If I insist on understanding an issue before I obey God, then I'm putting my own understanding above obedience. Sometimes I've found that I have to obey by faith, and then the understanding comes.
In my own life, I can get obsessed with the pursuit of greater & greater knowledge of a thing (i.e., understanding creation vs. evolution), so that I get sidetracked from the greater gifts (i.e., loving God first & loving my neighbor as myself). I think St. Paul said it best: "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." (I Corinthians 13:2)
For me also, I have to guard against thinking that my own understanding is somehow sufficient apart from God. Isaiah 5:9 says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." (God speaking)
When I read the essay that Raywww referenced in her post, I found it sad that people with a high intellect can be deceived into thinking that they don't need God any more. I always find it sad when people lose faith & walk away from their relationship with God.
I know that God gave me my intelligence. I also know that at times He asks me to put my reliance in my intelligence aside & to trust Him, even when what He wants from me doesn't appear to make logical sense. He also gave me the gift of enjoying food, but when I abuse it, I suffer the consequences.
poster:Dena
thread:206855
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/208104.html