Fueling Your Zeal With Wisdom

“We are told this is the Knowledge Economy. The Information Age,” observes author Anthony Delaney. Then he asks, “But where is wisdom to be found?”

Delaney says he decided to google the question, “Where is wisdom to be found.”

Interestingly, the very first answer references Job 28:12 that says, “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?”

Like Delaney, I scrolled several pages and almost every one was filled with a Bible reference.

Google may not give you the answer to the question, but it can point you to the answer–to God and His Word.

As noted last week from Romans 10:1-3, it is possible to have zeal without knowledge which will lead to a misdirected and misguided zeal. But in addition to knowledge, we must fuel our zeal with wisdom.

In his commentary on Job, Homer Hailey defines wisdom as “the insight into the underlying causes and consequences of things.” It allows one to apply to the best end the knowledge which he has.

Solomon admonished, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Prov. 4:7).

The Psalmist observed, “The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom” (Ps. 37:10).

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes 2:13 opined, “Wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.”

As we live, work, and worship in a world of unbelievers the apostle Paul’s exhortation is both relevant and helpful. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity” (Col. 4:5).

Zeal fueled by wisdom will issue itself bearing the fruit of the spirit. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. And self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These qualities will shape your thinking, guide your decisions, moderate your emotions, influence others, and direct your zeal.

Zeal fueled by wisdom must be exercised by discernment. This involves insight, perception, and judgment.

In my files I found this illustration of discernment. A man had three sons. He wanted to test their ability to discern, So he gave each of them an apple with a rotten spot on it. The first son ate the whole thing. The second threw the apple away. The third cut out the rotten part and ate the good part.

The unknown author then observed, “When we receive instruction, some of us believe everything we hear, others reject everything because some of it is bad, but the wise separate the bad from the good and benefit from the good.” That’s discernment.

Zeal fueled by wisdom speaks graciously with a thoughtful response. Following Paul’s exhortation to “walk in wisdom” among non-Christians, he advises, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:6).

In their desire to obtain a Bible study with an unbeliever, I’ve seen people push too hard and too soon. While zealous, their interaction may be interpreted as presumptions and obnoxious. Zeal must be tempered by time and opportunity. Plus the development of a relationship with the potential prospect.

Zeal  fueled by wisdom must  be activated and practiced with virtue. This speaks to our motives. To moral excellence. To our integrity. Why are we doing what we are doing? Why worship? Why minister? Why evangelize? Why teach? Why fellowship? Is it born out of a desire to serve and please God? Or for some selfish, even ungodly motive?

Zeal fueled by wisdom fights the good fight of faith with righteousness. While we are to put on the Christian armor to stand and fight against “the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:10-18), “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.” They are spiritual (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

Acts of violence. Threats. Name calling. Unwholesome words. Character assassination. And ad hominem arguments do not advance the cause of Christ. In fact, they impede it. And they demonstrate a misguided zeal.

May our zeal be a righteous zeal driven by our passion for God’s will, God’s work, and God’s Word.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman