Enthusiasm and zeal

When we are zealous, then others will be jealous (1 Samuel 18:6-9 and Matthew 27:18)

David was simply motivated in his service to God. The Bible teaches in Proverbs 27:2 “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” David was not saying this about himself, this is what the people were saying about David and Saul became jealous. Yet, if Saul had been selfless, obedient to God, and was zealous of good works, then he would have no need to be jealous of David. People who are jealous of those who are zealous are testifying to their lack of zealotry because they have too much time on their hands. So, they fill the void not with good works, but with idle talk. Like David, we have to move pass those who are jealous and remain zealous in the work of the Lord.

A lack of zeal must be repented of (1 Samuel 30:6 and Revelation 3:19)

David’s home was raided. David’s family was taken captive. Not only David’s, but all the people that were with him. They yelled. They cried out. They wept until they no longer had the strength to weep. David became greatly distressed. The people wanted to stone him. This was their reaction due to their discontentment. There will come times in our lives in which we may experience burn out. We become burned out when we begin with enthusiasm, but become frustrated with others’ lack of enthusiasm. We go from frustration to stagnation, by no longer being motivated to do anything and we don’t. We go from stagnation to apathy, by which we no longer care what happens. We go from apathy to emotional crisis, in which we have an emotional, moral, and/or physical meltdown. David did not go through this cycle, but rather he paused and encouraged himself in the LORD before his grief got out of hand. Before we get to a point where it appears that our zeal is waning, repent and avoid frustration, stagnation, apathy, and an emotional crisis altogether. Charles Kingsley once said, “We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements in life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about”.