Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Arrogance Of Intellect

Focus verses: Ezekiel 28:1-10

While the verses in today's reading are addressed to the King of Tyre, there is a lesson for us. We live in an information age. Knowledge has increased geometrically in the last century. Look at the innovations that have come about in the last 20 years.

We have telescopes that can "see" farther into the universe than ever. But no telescope can give us the vision of God.

We have microscopes that allow us to see smaller and smaller particles. But no microscope can plumb the depths of God's creation.

Some of us are old enough to remember the telegraph and wire recorders (which predated the reel-to-reel tape recorders).

We remember when the mouthpiece of a telephone was affixed to a box attached to a wall and the receiver hung on a hook. We remember cranking the ringer to get central - the lady who plugged in the wires so that we could talk with another party.

And we remember party lines where you didn't pick up unless it rang short-short-long because long-short-long was your neighbor's ring, and you respected their privacy.

Now we are attached (wirelessly) to the world by cell phones that play different tunes depending on which of your friends or family is calling. We have nearly instantaneous access to breaking news - if not via the television, then by our computers.

All of this gives us information. But information is NOT wisdom. Wisdom comes from spending time in the presence of God - not from listening to the cacophony of the secular world around us.

Let us never forget that the first sin pandered to the arrogance of the intellect - the ambition to be as wise as God without seeking the wisdom of God.

Those who seek their own wisdom will be destroyed therein, just like the King of Tyre.

Father, God,

Grant us Your wisdom and the knowledge that all of our being is dependent upon You alone. Keep us from the sin of arrogance, reminding us that our intellect is finite while Yours is infinite.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

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