Have Zeal, Be Hasty?

Proverbs 19: 2

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

Proverbs is such a good book of how to get along in this World. It has 31 chapters, just right for reading a chapter a day each month. 

Each chapter has so much advice, as I read it every month I get more insight that I never noticed before. 

This verse says that enthusiasm does no good if I don't know what I'm doing. And when I'm in a hurry is when I make mistakes and have accidents. 

So, for instance, I make it a point to never be in a hurry when I'm driving. I just remind myself that, even if the time seems not enough for the journey, I trust that I will get there in God's time, because He's never too early or late. So I have on occasion arrived just in time to be fashionably late. But I didn't miss anything I needed. 

This zeal without knowledge thing, though; how do I know when my knowledge is sufficient, before my zeal has waned? 

When I get excited about something and then try to do something about it right away, that can be a test to see if I'll have the patience and perseverance to do it right. I don't want to go off half-cocked, that results in a mis-fire. But I do need to do something, to begin the momentum, and as I proceed I learn more about what needs to be done and how to do it. Or I'll meet someone who knows. I just don't want to be in a hurry. 

O my Father, I pray that You would teach me more and more of Your ways, more and more understanding of Your rules, so that I will do the things You planned long ago for me to accomplish, the way You want them done. 

And whatever I accomplish, Father, keep me mindful that I can do nothing of myself, only in the power and wisdom of Your Spirit can I do anything at all. 

Thank You for all that You have given me so far, You have been so generous with me in all that You have enabled me to enjoy. 

Father, continue to help me, continue to teach me new things: new things in Your Word, new things I can do, new places I can go, new people to meet, new things to accomplish for the furtherance and promotion of Your Kingdom. 

Send out workers into Your fields, Father; send out Your Word throughout all the World to find all Your lost sheep, from every tribe and every language and every people group; and draw them all into the safety of the fold. Your Word will not return to You without accomplishing the purpose to which You sent it (Isaiah 55:11), to draw to Yourself all those whom You have chosen.

May all Your flocks all over the World come together into one fold in unity, Father, as Jesus prayed (in John 17:11, 21-23). And may You be pleased and take pleasure in all You have accomplished. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!