We go through stages. At one stage, we may think it’s important to find out what our IQ is. Then, we want to compare it with others. When someone has a higher IQ, we think that IQ is less important than when we find that someone else has a lower IQ. Often, smugness and pride lead us to believe that we are, somehow, better than we are.
IQ is dangerous in another way. We may believe that IQ is more important than goodness. This allows the prideful to say, of a dedicated nun, for instance, “I’m much smarter than she is.” and look down on someone who greatly outranks us where it counts, in being loved by God.
Thinking that our tiny IQ is important, especially when God is so vastly smarter than any of us, is worse than silly. It merely shows that our vanity has destr0yed our sense of perspective.
Many with above average mental or physical abilities do not fully understand God has given them gifts through their parents. They cannot rationally take credit for gifts freely given to them. Taking personal credit for His gifts is a sure way to separate oneself from God.
We who still enjoy saying “I”, followed by our applicable accomplishments, must remind ourselves, preferably before beginning the litany of self-praise, that all our abilities were freely given to us.
Money is another false value that many of us value for too much of our life. “How much is he worth?” is the most common question about a new member of a country club. Until one has enough money to prompt the question, it’s impossible to realize how frequently it’s asked.
Golf score, education, automobile, wristwatch, engagement ring, house size, salary, clothing brand, and age of Scotch are false values by which many of us pass judgments. We should steer clear of false values. False values are values that are false. False values keep us from God and salvation.
We should guide our life by a fixed star, symbolizing God. Guiding our life by false values is like steering a ship by a falling star.
