Zealousness

Introduction

What is zealousness? It can be defined as being enthusiastic and fervent, the very opposite of laziness and apathy. Without zealous people much of the advances in industry, education and sciences would never have happened. The same holds true with regards to revivals, missionary work and the church. To be zealous requires faithfulness to the cause.

The need for zeal

Every true follower of Jesus Christ needs to have zeal. When Christians become zealous for the Lord, then great things take place. The Lord in fact refuses to work where there is no zeal. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Those who are happy to remain lukewarm in reality have next to no faith in Christ or His word, and are therefore useless to Him. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

The zealous believer wants nothing more than to labour for the God he serves. We need such tireless and committed workers in the church today. The church is falling apart at the seams because there are so few who truly desire to faithfully serve the Lord with zeal.

Zeal in infectious

Those who have zeal will inspire others to serve God too. “It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing” (Galatians 4:18). If a family member catches the flu, almost immediately the rest come down with it too. The flu virus spreads wherever the person goes. This is what we need in our churches, and it only takes one zealous person to get it started. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14). How few have any level of zeal for the cause of Christ today! The foolishness, false doctrine and showmanship in our churches is evidence enough of the lack of faithful zeal.

Zeal demands urgency

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). How can we play while the world is rushing headlong into Hell? The Lord Jesus Christ, obviously the most zealous person who has ever lived, had such urgency. “And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:15-17). Would He have entertained Himself in the world He came to save? “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). We cannot but acknowledge that Jesus lived only to please His Father by doing His will. From the cradle to the cross He remained zealous. "I must be about my Father's business" (Luke 2:49) ... "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34) ... "Not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

The Lord Jesus Christ ought to be our example with regards to zeal as well as any other aspect of the Christian life. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Are we concerned enough for the lost to tell them the good news about the Saviour? This was certainly Paul’s attitude, and one we must emulate. "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also" (Romans 1:15) ... "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). Where would the church be today without the faithful zeal of the early followers of Christ? The Holy Spirit will fan the flames of zeal if it is for the cause of Christ alone.

Conclusion

Why is the modern-day church in the sorry state it is in? Jeremiah suggests that it is because dullness amongst God’s people. “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street” (Lamentations 4:1). That dullness results from our devaluing the glorious gospel of Christ by not upholding its standard and proclaiming its truth. With the absence of faithful zeal, darkness triumphs. We must be determined to turn this situation around. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). This age needs zealous believers who are faithfully serving the Lord, for only they can make a change in society, the nation and the church.