Daily Thought for Thursday, July 7th

July 7, 2011

Intelligence

Today’s Thought:

“It is not enough to have a good mind.  The main thing is to use it well.” – Rene Descartes

Today’s Quote:

“It is not clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value.” – Stephen Hawking

Today’s Question

Have you ever considered that: “Intelligence alone, without wisdom and empathy for suffering, is hallow?” – John G. Stoessinger

Today’s Bible Verses:            Philippians 2:1-5 & James 1:5

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Intellect is the critical, creative, and contemplative side of mind: intelligence seeks to grasp, manipulate, re-order, adjust; intellect examines, ponders, wonders, theorizes, criticizes, imagines.” –  Richard Hofstadter

Galileo Galilei stated; “I do not feel obliged to believe that that same God who had endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forego their use.”

I would tend to agree with him on this point.  However, we must not become guilty of confusing intellect with wisdom.  They are two different things.  While they can be perceived to have similar attributes, intellect is primarily acquired knowledge, while wisdom is more a comprehension through learned experience and observations.

Is one better than the other?  This might be a debate that could rage on for an undefined period of time, but needless to say, intellect without wisdom is probably not very profitable, nor would it be practical from a spiritual perspective.

“So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.” – Bertrand Russell

God gives us the ability to acquire knowledge which when grasped, understood and made usable, increases our intellect, but God also values greatly wisdom that comes from experience and a relationship with Him that intellectual pursuits cannot provide us.

So the goal should be to be wise enough to desire to become more intelligent; while being intelligent enough to know we need more wisdom.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I be smart enough to desire wisdom and wise enough to work to increase my intelligence; but in it all may I be humble enough to know I need to be totally submitted to you and your will for my life.