Zeal is beautiful, it has great potential to attract, help and push people forward. However, it also has the potential to put us on the wrong track. This is the case when there is zeal without knowledge or blind zeal. Sometimes, especially as young people (this is not limited to young people of course) when we hear a new and fresh ideology, something perhaps different to our mundane encounters, our zeal is stirred up. This is a beautiful thing when coupled with knowledge, however it can also be dangerous. Our zeal should energise but not control us. I have been in situations many a time when I hear something perhaps in a sermon or maybe even the Lord has spoken to me and I become a little bit smug. I feel like everyone else is a little bit silly for not understanding and being liberated the way I am. In a zealous endeavour I begin to try and change people to think like me. Their hearts may not be ready though! Was I not once like ‘them’? What is my heart behind my crusade to bring people to the light? All these thoughts should be primary and pray should be my first port of call.
Romans 10:2 says, ‘for I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.’ Zeal is good but zeal with the knowledge of God is better. This knowledge is not to puff us up but to remind us that love is patient, kind etc. It is to remind us that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace etc. This knowledge is to remind us that there is no other name under heaven (Jesus) by which we can be saved. This knowledge should remind us of so much! I can’t even begin to list it all. Zeal should not be intentionally rude or look down on others. The moment these ungodly characteristics begin to creep in, we must examine ourselves. Satan is cunning, he will use even the good in our hearts to try and tarnish what we have with God. Submit to God’s measure of righteousness and ask Him for more zeal and even more knowledge to go with it. Remember you were once blind, it is only God that allowed you to see. Don’t just up and leave where you are without first consulting the Father, it may be you that He wants to use to open the eyes of the blind. If He can use saliva and mud (John 9:6) how much more can He and will He use us?!