ZEAL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE?

TEXT: PROVERBS 19: 2

“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor be hasty and miss the way.” (Proverbs 19:2).

Knowledge can be explained as having the facts or having the right information. It can also be explained as skills acquired through experience, practice or education.

Knowledge is having an understanding of a subject matter in a given field.

It can be explained as having first-hand experience or idea.

To excel in life you must have a very good measure of knowledge in your chosen field or sector. Knowledge is what illuminates your mind to see things beyond their real form.

Knowledge transforms your mind from being a novice to a genius in your field of expertise. Knowledge takes people from the level of mediocrity to become experts and helps in the improvement of their lives.

Formal education is not the only avenue to have knowledge for everyday life. Some knowledge are gained informally outside the four walls of school.

In fact, there are some hand on experiences that one may need to learn outside formal setting that would be a bed rock to the experience needed to excel in your chosen field. Formal education may teach the theoretical aspect while non formal setting could be where your “hand on experience” would come from. This is why you have to have an open mind and not to be in a hurry to get things done- take your time to gain knowledge from different angles- knowledge can be gotten from the least expected channel and it may be imparted to you unconsciously (for example; during a casual discussion with someone).

Knowledge makes you to be rightfully informed and makes you to be skilful in your endeavours.

If anyone dabbles into a business or a career without having prior knowledge of the field or venture, if he or she does not know the nitty gritty and what it takes to be successful in such field, failure and frustration is inevitable!

Knowledge is power. The simplest task in the world could pose a problem to someone that does not have the right information and the required knowledge on how to perform such task. Hence, the “simple task” becomes a “mighty mountain” of problem to the ignorant person.

Out text told us that it is not good to have zeal without knowledge. Yes! Some people are so passionate and zealous in their endeavours, but as much as they invested all time and energy to this cause; nothing good is being recorded for them as success. Why? This may be because they fail to add knowledge to their zeal and passion.

I have heard people investing in businesses they know nothing about, but because they have the money to finance it and they heard it is lucrative, they ventured into it without equipping themselves with a little measure of knowledge to run the business. They will hire and expert to run the business, invariably, the life of the business is in the hand of the hired expert. Any negative move from the expert may be the end of the multi- million dollar business!

Rather than their expectation of recording success, they are faced with difficulty and disappointment because they lack the “KNOW HOW” – No prior knowledge of how the business works.

Our anchor text also said “it is not good to be hasty and miss the way.”

Some people are going the wrong direction so fast- They are in a haste going the wrong direction. Mind you, it does not matter how fast you are going, if you are heading toward the wrong direction.

I watched a viral video on Facebook where there was marathon race between some children. The girl that took the first leg of the race ran so fast that she was miles ahead of her competitors. She got to the next leg and gave the baton to the next person in line to continue the race. However, as soon as the boy in the second leg of the race collected the baton, he continue running with the speed of the lightening; but guess what? HE HEADED TOWARD THE WRONG DIRECTION! Instead of running to the finish line, he ran back to the starting point while other competitors that were slow at the first leg of the race continued the race to the finish line.

It is so sad to see that despite the massive distance between the girl that started the race on the first leg and the other competitors, success was not recorded at the end because of the boy that ran to the wrong direction.

At the end of the race, the girl and the boy that could run with the flash of lightening lost the race to the slow competitors!

The message the Lord is passing across to you today is that you should not be zealous for nothing- zealousness without knowledge will amount to failure, frustration and disappointment.

Be rightly informed before you engage in any endeavour. Seek knowledge in any field you want to go into- ask for assistance from those that are successful in the field, do your research, study and read books and journals.

Be very sure you have equipped yourself with enough information and skills before venturing into any field.

Do not be hasty and miss the way- slow and steady wins the race. Don’t join the group of those that are going fast in the wrong direction.

LET YOUR ZEALOUSNESS BE BASED ON KNOWLEDGE.

IMAGE: GOOGLE IMAGE

PRESENT YOUR VESSEL IN SANCTIFICATION AND HONOUR

TEXT: 1 THESSALONIAN 4: 1-8.

“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; ² for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, ⁵ not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

Sanctification can be defined as making something or someone holy, setting apart as sacred, purify and be free from sin. On this note, I will define sanctification as separation from the world and  dedication unto God- it means doing away with worldliness, sinful living and embracing holiness- being sold out to God totally by doing His will, walking to please Him in all your ways.

The Bible tells us that the eyes of the Lord are too pure to behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). For you to be at peace with God your ways must be right before Him, you must not be in tune with the world.

“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4).

We were bought with a price and that makes us to be accountable to the one (God through Christ) that paid the price. Your life is no longer your own anymore because Jesus paid the price with his precious blood. Hence, you cannot live as you want any longer- you must live according to the dictates of your owner (God).  

Whatever God tells you to do, you must do, and your ways must conform to His commands.

From the day you gave your life to Christ, it is expected of you to have turned a new leaf- the scripture says you are now a new man old thing have passed away behold all thing have become new(2 Corinthians 5:17). In this wise, all your sinful old ways shouldn’t be reflecting in you as a new person in Christ.

God wants you to be sanctified, to avoid all form or immorality and other works of the flesh.

Our anchor scripture says in verse four “that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour.” This verse is telling us that it is our sole responsibility to decide to live a sanctified life. You must make the determination to stand out from the world and its sinful pleasure so that you can embrace holiness and attain perfection by the grace of God.

Living a sanctified life is a personal obligation- the determination to live according to God’s precept is a matter of choice rather than coercion. God will not force you to do anything; He has given us the free will of choice.

Your pastor, Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader, House fellowship leader or the church counsellor cannot compel you to separate yourself from the world; they can only preach the word and encourage you to be a doer of the word. The onus is on you to obey the word of God and be determined that you will walk blamelessly with Him. Sexual immorality, lust of the eyes and pride of life, greed and covetousness should be avoided.

We are vessels of God- a vessel is an object that can retain contents either liquid or solid substance.

As spiritual vessels your heart can retain things; that is why the writer of our anchor scripture says we should possess our vessels in sanctification and in honour. You are the temple of God the spirit of God lives in you, but as soon as you harbour filthy things inside of you, any immoral act would make the Holy Spirit to take a break from you because light and darkness cannot mingle.

Let no corrupt though be in you like the people of the world. Examine yourself and be honest with yourself, make amends if need be. God did not call us to be impure; but to live a holy life. If you reject this instruction you are rejecting God and the outcome may be grievous.

As you cannot use a dirty plate to eat, so also God cannot use a dirty vessel. You must be purified and sanctified for God to use you.

DON’T SELL YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.

TEXT: GENESIS 25: 27-34

“²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birth right.”

³² “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birth right to me?”

³³ But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.

Birthright can be defined as a particular right of possession or privilege a person has from birth, especially as an eldest son.

Birthright is a moral right possessed by everyone- birthright can be explained as your inarguable, unncontending right and power bestowed on you at birth. You don’t have to do anything to get it. Birthright is your natural endowment- your natural blessing (no canvassing, competition or lobbying needed).

Our text talked about the twin boys of Isaac and Rebekah named Esau and Jacob they were twins but they were not delivered at the same time. Esau was born before Jacob; this made Esau the first born of the family.

They both grew up and took up different professions of their own.

Esau was a skilful hunter while Jacob was content to staying at home among the tent.

In those days, firstborns were honoured with the right to have right over the father’s assets – they can exercise authority and responsibilities after the death of their father. In addition to assuming the leadership role of the family, the first born is bestowed the privilege to inherit twice than what other children will receive- there is no argument about this because it is the natural law of being the firstborn of a family (birthright).

As believers, we have an inheritance of birthright through Jesus who is the firstborn of the almighty God.

Success, blessing, breakthrough,  accelerated promotion and so on are your birthright as a genuine believer, so you don’t need to be running around looking  to get what is already yours- you don’t beg or solicit for what belongs to you!

Back to our anchor scripture; Esau came back home hungry from hunting his hunting trip. He saw his brother Jacob cooking porridge and he begged his brother to give him some to eat.

Jacob asked his brother to part with his birthright with his birthright for him to eat from his food.

Can you imagine what Jacob wanted in exchange of some morsel of porridge? (Think of the definition and the explanation I talked about in the beginning).

Esau did not think much of his glorious future and all the benefits attached to being the firstborn before he accepted to sell his birthright for momentary pleasure or satisfaction!

How many pots of porridge do you think he would have been able to have in his possession if he had endured the hunger that made him to sell his birthright?

However, he was unable to hold on to make his own food- he was unable to delay his gratification. Hence, he sold his glorious future for a brief enjoyment and satisfaction.

Likewise, as children of God you have glorious future ahead of you. It does not matter what you are going through now, regardless of what the devil is making you to see about yourself, if you can wait and endure the challenge, God will set you free and you will enter into your inheritance.

Do not fall for the “deceiving and enticing offer” of the devil. The devil has nothing good to offer you. All he wants to do is to entice you with “small morsel” of gift or blessing to steal your birthright forever!

 The devil’s gift does not last long- like the morsel of porridge Esau sold his birthright for did not last him the whole week, because I believe he ate something else after his porridge ordeal.

Do not let the devil deceive you with some fake or make believe “breakthrough” that will deprive you from enjoying the inheritance of your birthright. Persevere; be able to delay your gratification- instant gratification may bring calamity and regret.

Be careful of the nature of offer you will accept so that you don’t tie down your destiny.

Image: Google Image

ARE YOU A MENTOR OR A TORMENTOR?

TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 17: 38- 50

³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LordAlmighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines a mentor as a trusted counsellor or a guide. A mentor is the one that helps you to get to the highest level of your career or your life in general.

A mentor works on you to bring out the best in you, he or she helps to bring out your authentic power, call your inner power out from within and brush, polish, shape, dress, refine or sharpen it to become a “rare gem.”

A mentor encourages, trains, and impacts you to become a better version of yourself- he or she helps you to develop new idea, skills and knowledge.

A mentor makes all effort within his or her reach to add value to you and make sure that you become successful in your chosen filed.

A mentor is a personal advocate in the secret that the evidence of his or her mentorship will become evident through the life of the mentee without having the feeling of insecurity or jealousy. A mentor leaves you a lot better than he or she met you.

A tormentor on the other hand is the one who causes repeated emotional pain, distress or annoyance to another. A tormentor does not want anybody around him to be successful.

When anybody tries to do something better than him (the tormentor), he gets jealous and angry and will look for every means to jeopardise the effort of the tormented.

Some Christian leaders, departmental heads in the church are tormentors. They get jealous and feel insecure as soon as anybody under them starts excelling. Instead of them to support and help build such person as a mentor will do, they will use all available channels to pull him or her down- this is ungodly!

Some leaders will bet on their lives never to see any of their subordinates successful. Instead of being a mentor to their subordinate they will become his or her tormentor by making life miserable and unbearable for the helpless subordinate. A tormentor would device all mechanism to frustrate his subordinates. He can demote him or her; he can remove the subordinate from any position that will accelerate his progress. Some wicked leaders (Tormentor) can go to the extent of plotting to kill the excelling subordinate.

In first Samuel 16 when God told Samuel to anoint David as the king, David was appointed by Saul to be playing the instrument for him. Saul was the king and David was his “music boy.”

“David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armour bearers. Then saul sent word to Jesse saying “Allow David to remain in my service for I am PLEASED WITH HIM.” (1 Samuel 16: 21-22).

David continued in Saul’s service. There was no rivalry or discord between them until David killed Goliath and people started to praise David. Saul became jealous and wanted David dead by all means.

“⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

(1 Samuel 18: 8-11).

Saul’s once “undying love” for David became hatred as soon as David’s fame started to spread. The plan of God came to pass on David and he triumph over Saul despite all odds. Learn from this account, as a leader do not be a tormenting leader to your followers, because either you like it or not the plan of God will come to pass in their lives.

 A tormentor will be disgraced and a mentor will be promoted and be blessed. Be a mentor and not a tormentor for God will reward you accordingly.