Early this week I was in Fort Myers, Florida. One afternoon between meetings I had the joy of visiting Thomas Edison’s and Henry Ford’s winter homes. It was fascinating to read about the lives of these famous innovators. And a little sad.
As I sat watching a film about the bitter relationship between Henry Ford and his only son Edsel, I thought what a waste a great mind is without a great heart. Our world is full of great minds. Scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, inventors, philosophers, teachers, leaders all make their mark on history.
Yet too often when you read the personal history of great thinkers you discover that something is tragically missing in the deepest part of their lives. It is an all-wise God who gives intellectual gifts. There is no mind like His! But mental power is not the greatest power in the world. Love is. And love’s realm is the heart.
The Creator not only created man with the ability to think, He created him with the ability to feel, to choose. Over the last few years there has been a great deal written about “emotional intelligence.” Some people who are not academically gifted are specially gifted to read people, to sense circumstances, to discern a situation. We all are different. And we all are the same – God wants the whole person because only He can make us whole people.
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
We have many great minds in our world today but we need more great hearts – people who love God and love others. In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress Great-heart was the character who showed such charity and mercy toward others on the journey. His contribution was in seeing and meeting the needs of those around him. May God multiply his kind!
In the 1800’s James Chalmers of Scotland served as a missionary to the cannibalistic people of New Guinea. His message to people so full of hatred was simple. In his own words: “to tell you of the great loving Spirit who loves us all.” He would become known in missionary history as “Greatheart of Papua.”
In every generation God uses great hearts who have been touched by His love to touch the world. Great hearts encourage others. Great hearts reach the lost. People often remember and revere great minds, but great hearts make a difference in this world and for the world to come. Thank God for great minds, but ask the Lord to make you a great heart!
