Integrating Faith and Intellect

  In 1874, Frances Havergal wrote a powerful hymn that Christians sing to date: “Take my heart and let it be”.  The hymn writer prayerfully asked God to take his life and make it concentrated to Him; to make his hands to move at the impulse of His love; to make his feet swift and beautiful for Him; to cause his voice to sing always for Him; to let his lips be filled with messages from Him; to enable him not to withhold from Him silver and gold; to take his intellect and use it as He chooses; and to make his will to be aligned to God’s will.  Clearly, this hymn writer understood that everything he had belonged to God and was to be used for His glory.

Intellect can simply be defined as the amount of intelligence that a person has.  Everyone has some degree of intellect, though some people have exceptionally higher levels of intellect.  The latter are thus said to be geniuses in academics, just as some are geniuses in sports, fashion, entertainment etc. 

John 3:27 states, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.” 

This scripture vividly ascertains that human beings are only stewards of the gifts that God has given them: academic prowess; sporting ability; artistic creativity and skill; exceptional fashion sense; etc.  These gifts are to be used for the purposes of God and are not merely for our self-enrichment and fulfillment; they are for advancement of God’s kingdom! 

Kenya’s education system has for many years over-emphasized and lauded high academic performance while overlooking the need for holistic development of students.  Holistic growth entails development of mind, soul, spirit and body.  Jesus exhibited this kind of growth in his childhood.

Luke 2:52 states that “Jesus grew in wisdom (mind) and stature (physical body), and in favor with God (spirit) and man (soul).” 

Failure of our education system to focus on holistic child development is catastrophic and fatal.  No wonder many have fallen for the devil’s deceptive lies.  For example, as some excel in their giftings, they begin to convince themselves that they do not need God in their lives; some have even denied the existence of God; while others loose the meaning of life despite great achievements and die of depression, suicide etc.  There is no doubt that knowledge is good- Hosea 4:6 states that people perish for lack of knowledge.  However, knowledge without God puffs up (1^st Corinthians 8:1). 

The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).   Fear in this scripture does not mean dread of the unknown, the mysterious, or the terror of God’s wrath.  It means reverent and humble submission to the revealed will of Yahweh.  Those submitted to God see each moment as the Lord’s time; each relationship as the Lord’s opportunity; each duty as the Lord’s command; and each blessing as the Lord’s gift.  The fear of God is the fundamental component, the principal part, of knowledge (Africa Bible Commentary, 2006).  The fear of God tempers knowledge and enables us to surrender our intellect for God’s use. Those filled with the Holy Spirit manifest the following: wisdom and understanding; counsel and might; knowledge and fear of God.  Isaiah 11:2 states, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD.”   

Knowledge in itself is not enough.  In fact, King Solomon at some point in his life considered it as vanity (Ecclesiastes 2:26).  Every person needs wisdom to apply the knowledge he/she acquires.  Notwithstanding, the bible warns us against being wise in our own eyes (Proverbs 3:7).  This is because the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God stronger than human strength (Colossians 2:2-3).  Secondly, the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17). 

The story of four Hebrew boys- Daniel, Shadrack, Mechack and Abednego- clearly depicts the need for integration of intellect and faith.  These boys were chosen to serve in the king’s palace because, among other characteristics, they showed exceptional aptitude (Daniel 1:4).  Noteworthy is verse 8 of Daniel 1 which states, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine….”  This was a faith-based decision.  Despite the four Hebrew boys being exceptionally endowed with various gifts, they had a personal relationship with God which highly informed their values, priorities and submission to God’s Sovereignty.  Scripture clearly indicates that God gave the four young men knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning, and they could understand visions and dreams of all kinds (Daniel 1:17).

The young boys, though captives in Babylon, became a great influence and rose to the highest positions of governance in the land.  Because God was their divine enabler and they were fully submitted to Him, He took delight in manifesting His glory through them.  For example, when Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the king laid prostrate before him and confessed that indeed Daniel’s God is the God of gods (Daniel 2:47).  When thrown into a fiery furnace, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego were seen walking around in the fire, with a fourth person looking like a son of the gods.  When they were removed from the furnace, their bodies were not harmed and the hair of their heads was intact; their robes were not scorched and there was no smell of fire on them (Daniel 3:24-27).  Consequently, a decree was issued that any person who spoke against their God would be severely punished by being cut into pieces.

We can also draw numerous lessons from Joseph’s life.  God’s call was upon Joseph at a tender age (Genesis 37:5-11- two dreams).  God distinguished him at an early age and His favor was upon him.  Joseph was a talented and gifted young man.  Notwithstanding, it is the foundation that he had in God at an early age, which enabled him to stand when great opposition arose from his brothers and he was sold as a slave in Egypt.  God’s gifts and calling upon your life does not mean that you will be exempted from the troubles of this world.  However, the joy of living a Christian life is to know that you are not alone; to know that Christ is with you in every circumstance of life.  Joseph’s personal experience with God made him to stand against evil in a foreign land.  For example, when he was confronted by Potiphar’s wife to commit fornication, Joseph’s response was as follows: “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”  Whenever God led Joseph to, whether in the palace or in jail, he influenced for God.  When Joseph was eventually put in charge of Egypt, God’s wisdom enabled him to offer practical help to Egypt during the country’s hour of need.  Kenya is in need of men and women with practical wisdom to solve our nation’s crisis.

Salvation should not only affect our spiritual life but all dimensions of our lives.  Integration of our faith with all aspects of our being is God’s intent for us.  If the current generation is to impact the nations of the world and fulfill God’s purposes, they must be deeply rooted in Christ.  John 15:5 states, “…apart from me you can do nothing.”  The world today has focused a lot on talent and gifts, but believers working in educational institutions, parents and the church must emphasize the need for our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, to enter into a personal relationship with God, whether young or old.  You and I must be willing to lay the foundation of Christ in the lives of the generations that come after us.  It is hard work, but it is God’s plan and intent!

Deuteronomy 11:18-20a- “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,…”

God has placed many believers at strategic positions of influence.  Just as Esther was appointed as Queen to deliver the Israelites from destruction, and just as Mordeccai was placed in Esther’s life to provide counsel and mentor her into her God given assignment, God has placed many believers today in their areas of assignment to influence many for the Kingdom of God.  For example, parents and teachers (whether trained or not; whether in a formal education system or informal), have an opportunity to holistically develop children.  We have an opportunity to not only impart knowledge but also to expose them to the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Take time to meditate on the words of the following hymn:  

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in endless praise.	4. Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee.	5. Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my voice and let me sing, Always, only for my King. Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee.	6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.