We want to be peculiar people zealous of good works (Titus 2:14). We are to be like our Master, of Whom it was said, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:17).
Things that Dampen Our Zeal
Discouragement from others (Numbers 32)
Not enough food (Word of God)—1 Peter 2:2 shows we can’t have “energy” without “eating.”
Cares, riches, pleasures choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful; Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:19 show that cares choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful.
Things that Increase Zeal
The Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13, “effectually” = be active, efficient)
Encouragement from others (“your zeal hath provoked very many” 2 Corinthians 9:2)
Single-minded (Cares choke, so single-mindedness doesn’t choke, but undistractedly bears fruit, Luke 11:34; Acts 2:46; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22.)
Just do it; working can increase the joy of working. The more one does God’s will, the more joy he finds in it. (“Commit thy works to the Lord, and all thy thoughts will be established,” Proverbs 16:3.)
Understanding and wisdom (Proverbs 2:6-12)
Spiritual sight—walking by faith (Romans 1:17); “looking for the joy that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:2), not “in this life only”
Zeal must be according to knowledge (Romans 10:2), not of our own hearts and imagination about what we think we should be doing or our own motivation (such as hypocrisy for the praise of men, money, power, etc.).
Examples of Zeal
Elijah
Jesus
David against the enemies of the Lord (starting with Goliath), and to do the Lord’s work, build the temple, love those who loved the Lord like Jonathan, etc.
People of Nehemiah who built the wall—”had a mind to work”
Timothy (naturally cared for God’s people)
Daniel, zealous to obey the commands of God under even the most impossible of circumstances
Joshua, who departed not out of the tabernacle as a young man, and served Moses, zealous to stand up to go against the crowd to follow God (“as for me and my house” Joshua 24:15).
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth” (1 Corinthians 16:13-16).
