What’s Your Love IQ?

Imagine walking into a crowded room, briefly milling around, and then with the help of a little computer technology, knowing, without ever saying a word, whether anyone there might be a good match for you as a dating partner. Sound like sci-fi? Not to researchers at M.I.T.’s Media Lab who designed Thinking Tags. These little wearable computers seek out other “smart” tags in a room and swap data. The microchip-driven, infrared-transmitting cards are programmable by the wearer, who is asked to input responses to five questions designed to help you click with another. At a Thinking Tag get-together,
people wander about and let their badges do the work. When they approach within five feet of each other, pairs of tags display their results in a neat row of five red and green lights. According to the inventors, you dispense with all the tired chit-chat and immediately know whether it’s worth the brain cycles to at­tempt social intercourse.

If this artificial-intelligence approach to interaction seems a bit, well, artificial, we understand. Thinking Tags, as far as we know, are far from catching on. When it comes to getting to know one another, most ­ people still opt for old-fashioned communication (even if it’s on the Internet). But you don’t have to sacrifice relational intelligence if you’re not wearing a smart tag. Not if you have what we call a high Love I.Q.

Scripture calls it wisdom. And the Apostle Paul says it straight: "Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise (Ephesians 5:15). That's what we mean in this reading plan by improving your "Love IQ." We want to help you be wise in your love life.

Have you ever thought about your intelligence when it comes to love? Not your understanding of its history or origins, but your capacity to keep your wits about you when you’re engulfed by its mysterious emotions. That’s what smart love is all about. It ­doesn’t take the fun out of feeling. It simply infuses it with wisdom.

Smart love is still love, thrills and all, only wiser.

More focused. More observant. And invites scripture to help guide us in our decision-making. Smart love ­doesn’t allow you to delude yourself into believing something that ­ isn’t true. It may, for example, point out that the person you’re with is the person you’re better off without.

On the other hand, it may help you see clearly that the person you’re with makes you a better person. It may give you confidence to know that your relationship is headed in the right direction.

While your heart is sweetly distracted by all the possibilities, smart love keeps you aware of what is taking place. You still swoon and sigh, but you also consider facts and make intelligent choices. Smart love is all about falling in love without losing your mind – and this reading plan will show you how to do just that.

Today, ask God for wisdom and understanding. He wants for your decision-making to be Spirit-led, grounded in His wisdom, and filled with His peace.