ZEAL - It comes measured in two extremes: a remarkable lack of enthusiasm for anything; or a fiery all-consuming fervor for one thing.  Zeal is the opposite of apathy. 

A high school newspaper did a poll asking students if they thought people were apathetic about their school.  1% said “Yes,” 1% said “No.”  And 98% said, “They didn't care!”  When it comes to zeal, how do you avoid the ardor that leads to fanaticism or the apathy that leads to cynicism?

In the name of religious zeal, whole families and towns have been butchered, nations attacked and world-wide peace threatened.  Meanwhile, millions starve or die of preventable diseases or live in rampant poverty and the zeal of a callous, watching world is not kindled.  We either raise our hands in holy terror or we sit on our hands and do nothing.

The Apostle Paul writes, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” [Romans 12:11, NIV]  He also explains, “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.” [Galatians 4:18, NIV]  In Proverbs we read, “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” [Proverbs 19:2, NIV]

It sounds to me that we need to cultivate zeal, but to do so for a good purpose based on clear knowledge of what it is that we should get all excited about.

The Psalmist says, “For zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall upon me.” [Psalm 69:9, NIV]  That same zeal is later ascribed to Jesus after He cleared out the Temple of those who would profane it and make it a house of discriminatory commerce and not of universal prayer.  We are to be zealous for the honor and reverence of God and for the equal access to God by all people.  Jesus got energized when He encountered barriers to people experiencing worship in God's love and faithfulness.

What gets your “juices flowing”?  What kindles your enthusiasm?  What makes you burn inside?  What “temple” would you like to cleanse?  What might cause you to move from apathy to ardor?

The Bible seems clear that we are to be passionate about our relationship with God, not just about ourselves.  We are to “step up” when the needs of others are the focus, not the fulfillment of our personal wishes.  And we are to get involved enthusiastically in the care and protection of the “widow and the orphan” – in other words, those vulnerable people in our world who need outside help.

Two of the signs that our zeal is good and not destructive are, if God is honored and people served.  We'll discover a zest for life when we are not only focused on getting ahead in our own lives but are investing in the lives of others.  Life will not be tedious if we look beyond ourselves and ask Jesus what He would do if He were in our shoes and our situations.

Instead, our lives will be filled with holy passion and fervent commitment to fulfilling our purposes on earth.  We will go through life, not jaded and bored, but animated by a zeal that can inspire us to great compassion and concern for the very things that God cares about.

May Jesus use my life and yours to make a significant difference by giving us the zeal to be different!