Question: Is zeal a good thing? Definitions are necessary, of course, so let’s be clear about the term. It’s a noun: zeal. It’s defined as “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.”

Again I pose the question: Is zeal a good thing? In my career in the military, I’ve known many soldiers who were zealous. They exuded energy and zeal. Were those people always good soldiers? Many were, thankfully. But there were others, too, some who likewise exuded energy and zeal but sometimes that energy and zeal served improper ends.

Wise leaders use zeal properly. Their energies are expended in service of right and proper ends.

Unwise leaders use zeal improperly. Their energies are expended in service of wrong and improper ends.

Again I pose the question: Is zeal a good thing? Hopefully by now it is clear. It can be. But zeal without wisdom is dangerous. If you’ve ever known of a person who was given titular authority but was not ready for it, bad things can happen. What do I mean? How many times have you heard of a company that an entrepeneur built, but something happened to that person, and the company was given to his/her child, and the child destroyed the organization?

That’s what I mean. Sometimes a person can have a title (titular authority, in other words) but be the wrong person for the vocation.

In the New Testament letter of Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote about how most of his fellow Jews had a zeal for God, but that it was “not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). They wrongly sought to establish their own righteousness and thus rejected the only true righteousness of Christ Jesus, an imputed righteousness that is granted to all who repent and believe the gospel (Romans 10:1-4).

Paul stresses, in other words, our need of the gospel of grace, of Christ’s righteousness imputed to us. Why? Because self-righteousness is damning. It reveals pride. When we recognize our need, we begin to grasp the majesty of God’s grace–that He would save any of us.

Encouragement: So, is zeal a good thing? It can be, but it must be wed to biblical wisdom. That wisdom will be evidenced via a spirit of humility, selfless service, and Christ-centeredness. My grandfather on my mom’s side pastored congregations for over 50 years as a local church pastor, and one of the phrases that Granddaddy often said from the pulpit was this: “Welcome to __________ Church, where there are no Big I’s or Little U’s.”

I love that: No Big I’s or little U’s. That’s not particularly sound grammar but it is excellent theology.

Is zeal a good thing? It can be, but it should be wed to biblical wisdom. The work of Christ will humble you. Every time. It removes our boasting. The godliest people you’ll meet are the most humble. Why? They’ve been gripped by the Good Shepherd, who left royalty and condescended to us sinners. And when that message grips your soul, it’ll reshape you and your zeal for His glory, not our own.