Thursday, September 5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Ecclesiastes 10–12

2 Corinthians 8:1–15

Psalm 49:1–20

Proverbs 22:20,21

 

 

“Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise;

                apply your heart to what I teach

for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart

                and have all of them ready on your lips.

So that your trust may be in the Lord,

                I teach you today, even you.

Have I not written thirty sayings for you,

                sayings of counsel and knowledge,

teaching you true and reliable words,

                so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you?”

(Proverbs 22:17–21)

 

In recent weeks, I have reflected a fair amount on the nature of wisdom.  In reading through Proverbs and the rest of Scripture, we notice several key truths:  that wisdom comes directly from God (James 1:17); that it comes from fearing the Lord (Proverbs 9:10); that it preserves the life of its possessor (Ecclesiastes 7:12); and that its value surpasses earthly riches (Proverbs 16:16).  Here, we read that wisdom produces “trust” in the Lord, a firm foundation in life’s storms.

 

I find behavioral psychology absolutely fascinating, both from an investment perspective and also from a people-watching perspective.  Furthermore, I have recently sought to understand more clearly how massive technological and informational stimuli have impacted our present-day culture.  Why, for example, do I struggle to relax and lean confidently on the sovereignty of God?

 

Over the past week, I read a book called Your Survival Instinct Is Killing You:  Retrain Your Brain to Conquer Fear, Make Better Decisions, and Thrive in the 21st Century.  The author, Marc Schoen, serves as a doctor to traumatized individuals through his practice in Los Angeles.  While he espouses an evolutionist and secular worldview, some of the scientific findings he mentions point to the underlying brilliance of God’s creation.  While he chalks up brain function to evolution, I praise God for His wisdom in creation.

 

Schoen explains that the brain contains three separate regions, with differentiated functions.  The brain stem controls key bodily functions such as breathing.  The cerebral cortex collects rational thoughts and processes knowledge; we may train this region through reading and study.  The third region, the limbic brain, ties the emotions of the heart to our minds for action.  Schoen argues that, while we may have stored data in the cerebral cortex, the limbic brain may cause us to exhibit irrational reactions.  He provides the example of an individual who wishes to lose weight (driven by the cerebral cortex) but struggles to overcome the positive associations of food with comfort (driven by the limbic brain).  He illustrates how the limbic brain forces us to have associational reactions, such as tensing up over a recurring situation or becoming disenchanted with a particular place.

 

Schoen further argues that, while we experience the most comfortable era in human history, our limbic brains have become train to overreact to any sensations of discomfort.  Perhaps this development explains my tendency to complain and focus on the “little things.”  In short, our fight-or-flight response has become hypersensitized to even modestly negative stimuli, as our fear of “discomfort” rises over tiny agitations.  Yet, this discomfort wells into agitance, which may, coupled with stress, produce insomnia and panic attacks.

 

To overcome this cycle, Schoen suggests embracing a fair number of New Age mumbo-jumbo, which I will not repeat here.  Still, he does note that empathy/compassion and gratitude provide two pathways to reduce our agitance levels, both of which square with the teachings of Scripture (2 Corinthians 1:3–5; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).  These virtues, devoid of God’s influence, may become mere selfishness cloaked in altruism, however.

 

As I further reflected, it appears that God had intended wisdom, understanding, and “hiding” His Word in our hearts as the key to affecting the limbic brain (and the heart) and bringing the truth to bear even when our sinful natures wish otherwise.  The Word of God does indeed retrain our minds, causing us to react in concert with godly wisdom rather than our sinful natures.  Memorizing Scripture provides a key means of achieving this goal, as the Holy Spirit may then take the Word to apply it to our present situation and bring forth a wise resolution or reaction.

 

Accordingly, we have the privileged responsibility to submit our minds to Christ and to allow His reworking:  “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4)

 

Similarly, in seeking and basking in God’s presence, our understanding emerges from His light:

 

“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

                your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

                your justice like the great deep.

O Lord, you preserve both man and beat.

                How priceless is your unfailing love!

Both high and low among men

                find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;

                You give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

                in your light, we see light.”

(Psalm 36:5–9)

 

 

I noted that Schoen overlooked trusting wholly in God as the true antidote to information overload and limbic brain freak-outs.  In this area, God has provided knowledge regarding His sovereignty and worthiness to be trusted in my life, but I continue to struggle to bring this knowledge into wisdom that guides my heart.  A recent strategy has involved bringing to mind those verses about God’s sovereignty and dominion during moments of stress and worry.  How about for you?

 

In what areas of your life would you like to submit more fully to God’s wisdom and plan?  How would you like hide His Word more deeply in your heart?

 

Lord God, we thank You for your creative genius and the nature of minds, hearts, and spirits.  Without Your wisdom, we will stand weakly on shaky ground, but your wisdom provides a firm foundation for our lives.  Help us to hide Your Word in our hearts and minds, that Your Holy Spirit may bring forth truth and wisdom in our everyday lives.  We seek to honor You and love You and Your children each day.  Give us the strength to pursue You faithfully and to trust You wholly.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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