Daniel 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.

Intellectual gifts are just that, gifts. We are responsible to exercise them and apply them, but there is no room for pride. Most gifts are a matter of discovery; we don’t know we have them until we try something new. These four young men were immersed in the new, as far as they were concerned, and they clung to the one thing that they knew could not be taken from them: their faith. The closest parallel for young people today might be going away to college. Sadly, faith is one of the first things a lot of young people discard! Many campuses today are indeed actively hostile to genuine Christian faith, but not any more so than Babylon was for these young men. Just as they chose not to partake of the indulgent diet that was offered to them, young people today need to stand firm against the indulgences of the flesh that are pushed on them. That’s more easily said than done! It is probably a corollary that a recent study has shown that an American university education doesn’t really educate most students in the areas that really matter, which are analytical thinking and maturity. The young men in this verse gained in those areas because they placed God first.

I came from a highly educated family, but my biggest advantage has been that I was steeped in the principle that God comes first. I can’t say that I’ve always lived by that principle, but having that environment was an enormous advantage. Sadly, I’ve used my intellectual gifts as a refuge all too often, looking down on others to try to feel better about myself. That never works! Essentially all of my life I’ve known the principle that God distributes gifts according to His plan, differently to each individual. (1 Corinthians 12:11) However, really getting that understanding into the core of my being has taken quite a while! I need to remember that God gives whatever gifts are necessary to accomplish whatever tasks He assigns, and look on all gifts, in myself or in others, as tools for building the kingdom of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder, particularly when I’m facing a situation today for which I have not felt particularly gifted in the past. Help me trust You to supply what is necessary, not in presumption but in grateful submission, so that every facet of this church may be as You desire and intend, for the benefit of each member and for the advancement of Your kingdom, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!