Zeal For God!

Newspaper Articles

Paul Adams
04/19/15 - Newspaper Articles

Zeal is a wonderful thing to have. This excitement and enthusiasm can be illustrated by one of its meanings: to be heated to the point of boiling. Many people are on fire about religion. The Apostle Paul said that for zeal to be of any value there are some things that must accompany it. What must we have with our zeal? What does the Bible say?

Zeal Is Essential. Paul indicates Zeal is a good thing when speaking of some people of his day. “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God …” (Romans 10:2) Zeal was a quality attributed to Jesus when he cast the moneychangers out of the temple: “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” (John 2:17).

Zeal Must Have Knowledge. When Paul speaks of the zeal of Israel, he follows up by saying, “…but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness …” (Romans 10:2-3). Just being excited was not enough. They needed to know the truth. Zeal alone would not save.

Zeal Must Be Accompanied By Righteousness. Being enthusiastic, and knowing what is right, is still not enough. We must do those things. In Roman 10:3, we read of those zealous people who were: “seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” Submission to the will of God is another essential.

We encourage you to have zeal that has both the knowledge of God’s word and obedience to the truth. That is a saving combination.