It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.
Proverbs 19:2
The Zealous Enthusiast
Zeal is defined as enthusiasm, passion, eagerness in pursuit of something–fervor. Maybe you’re a Christian trying to share the gospel. Or rather, maybe you’re someone who wants to help the poor, or work for a world of justice. But if we do these things without sound knowledge of what we’re doing, it’s no good. We might even end up doing the opposite of what we intended, or missing the mark.
Have you ever seen someone with good intentions, eager to lend a helping hand? But unfortunately, because they have no knowledge or instruction on what to do, they end up making things more difficult?
Once, my little cousin was so enthusiastic to help us organize a laundry basket full of VHS tapes. She got to work, matching the correct tapes with their empty cases. However, once she was done, I found myself with a problem. I would open up The Lion King but find Men in Black instead. Despite her best efforts, her help ended up creating more work for me in the end.
Like this, if we lack knowledge and understanding of God, His purpose, and how He wants things to be done His way, then we could end up wasting our time. Or worse, we could end up hindering the work of God. We see this happen at the time of Jesus’s first coming.
Zeal with Improper Understanding
The leaders of the Jewish people actually worked against Jesus and kept people from going to him. They were the very ones who claimed to be knowledgeable about Scripture and were supposed to lead God’s people on the right path.
Although these leaders studied the Law of Moses and the Prophets their whole lives, their actions showed that all of their knowledge didn’t help them recognize the one sent to save them. On one occasion, they asked Jesus a question about resurrection and Jesus replied,
“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
Matthew 22:29
Immensely offended, and in complete misunderstanding, they relentlessly persecuted Jesus and his followers throughout his ministry. Eventually, they hung the Son of God on the cross. Threats to ostracize people from the synagogue (and society) were given if they dared to follow Jesus.
The religious leaders zealously hindered the work of God by spreading false accusations. They also did everything they could to stop people from going to Jesus, who was giving the words of God at that time, thinking that they were helping God in the process. But little did they realize, that they were actually working against God. This zeal without proper understanding, this passionate persecution led to the Jewish rejecting the savior sent for them.
Do You Have Zeal Without Full Knowledge?
Couldn’t the same thing happen today if we are misguided in our knowledge of God’s will and work? If we’re bursting with passion for God but don’t know who He’s with or how He’s working, we’ll end up missing out on it. Or worse, we could actively go against it.
If Jesus were here today, would all Christians actually recognize him and flock to him? Or would it look more like the first time he came – when the people who claimed to know the word rejected him?
Let us not act solely based on emotion, but take the time to learn what ought to be learned. That way, God will acknowledge our works, we will be of help to the work He is doing, and we won’t miss out on the way back to Him.
Written by Samantha
Read More
Get Behind Me Satan! How to Not Hinder God’s Work
It Is Finished: What Jesus Actually Completed
A Prophet Without Honor: Why Jesus’ Hometown Didn’t Believe in Him
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