Intelligence in the kingdom

We do not expect intelligence in government; government is to be based on law, without any place to make an intelligent decision.

But the kingdom of God governs with intelligence. God can distinguish between two things that are outwardly the same.

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you." Matthew 6:1-4

There are consequences in the kingdom of God that are not the result of physical actions. A physical action can be rewarded; the same physical action can also result in silence from God. God looks at us with intelligence; He knows what in is our heart. Cause and effect in this world come from physical laws, but cause and effect in the kingdom of God comes from His intelligence. He rewards men, and He chastises men.

"Make friends quickly with your oppponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent." Matthew 5:25-26

God rewards alms given from the heart; God chastises disregard of others. He does this with intelligence, He is not confused by any role-playing on our part.

This is not how we have learned to live. We have learned to hide what we are ashamed of, in order to maintain a proper appearance. It is an unspoken assumption that what is not seen does not count.

But there is intelligence in the kingdom of God. We cannot give something to a poor man without God seeing it; we cannot hide that from Him. We cannot disregard a brother without God seeing it; we cannot hide that from Him either. No matter how insignificant outwardly something is, it is significant. There are no timeouts; there are no sidelines. There is no darkness for God.

This intelligent God acts in real time; He rewards now and He chastens now. He acts like a father would act toward his children. No earthly father writes down the good and the bad in a book to settle accounts with his children later. An earthly father acts in the present moment, because that is when it can do some good.

Our heavenly Father acts in this present time; He acts with intelligence.