EQ > IQ

Do you know anyone who is “book smart” but lacks common sense? What about a Christian who knows all types of facts from the Bible, but doesn’t know how to talk to others? Or someone who can’t relate to people on an emotional level? We all know those people who are incredibly intelligent but have a very limited social awareness. Studies have shown that it’s more important for businessmen to have a high EQ (emotional quotient) than IQ (intelligence quotient). Companies have learned the importance of placing people in management who have a high emotional awareness of themselves and others.

I feel like this is a Biblical principle, but it’s something that Christians have yet to learn. David was known as “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). He was arguably the greatest King that Israel ever had. I’m in no way saying that he was perfect, he was human and made a number of mistakes, but he was still a great leader. Solomon, David’s son, is probably best known for the story found in 1 Kings 3 where he asks God for wisdom, and God gives it to him. Solomon was a great leader, but eventually his disobedience led to the Kingdom becoming divided. I believe this is because his IQ was much higher than his EQ. Solomon was wise, he had a lot of knowledge, but he had not spent the time developing an emotional awareness, and this is what eventually led him and his kingdom astray. He did not have self-control, he accumulated many wives, and these women led his heart away from the Lord. He did not worship God with his whole heart.

1 Kings 11:4 says: “For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.” 

Solomon had what I like to call “head knowledge”, but he had less “heart knowledge”. He knew God in his mind, which can lead to a genuine love and appreciation for God. But he didn’t know God with his heart, he was lacking an emotional intimacy that God desperately wants for his people. Throughout the Old Testament, God pleaded for Israel to turn their hearts back to Him. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jesus said that we are to love the Lord with all our “heart, soul, mind and strength”. Which of these 4 is easiest for you? Honestly, worshipping God with my heart, my emotions, is the hardest for me, but it’s the most important. I believe that when we love God with our hearts, then the rest just comes naturally. If we love God with our heart, then we will love Him with our wills, our intelligence and thoughts, which will lead us to express love through our actions. So what does your love for God look like? Which is higher, your EQ or IQ? I encourage you, no matter where you’re at in your relationship with God, go deeper. Spend more time with him, let your love for him grow. Let your heart knowledge become greater than your head knowledge.