Zeal—Discernment

Zeal—Discernment

My lack of understanding is revealed as I am zealous for that which is good. By being zealous, I can get to see it and judge it; and by believing in the light, I can be saved from it (sanctified). In this way I receive understanding. Without zeal—being slothful, lazy, and indifferent—I will keep all my folly in my inner man. I am not even aware of it, and it is therefore impossible for me to be saved from it.

Therefore do not dampen your zeal, but rather fire it up! Use discernment by paying heed to God’s voice in your inner man while you are zealous in your work, so you can learn to know your folly, for your own salvation. This is even more important than the work itself!

Zeal is directed outward, but its most important work is inward. My “self,” my folly, is being consumed.

Even if my words are not being received by the others, they always have an effect on me.

First zeal—before discernment can come. Without zeal I am bound to folly.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 and 12. Verse 11: outward zeal. Verse 12: inward fruit.

Titus 2:14 and Romans 6:22. The fruit of purifying ourselves is zeal, and the fruit of zeal (in serving) is purification (sanctification). This results in a continual, saving, reciprocal interaction, which is a precise fulfillment of the word, “A God of constant salvation.”1

Older, slack, lazy, indifferent, sluggish, sleepy, and unbelieving brothers usually complain about young, zealous brothers because they have little discernment. Thereby they reveal their own great lack of this virtue, for in Proverbs 20:29 we see that the glory of young men is not their discernment, but their strength (zeal). At the same time we see that the splendor of old men is their gray head (understanding is the proper gray head).

Therefore, when such older brothers reveal such a lack of understanding, it is grievous and a disgrace, whereas the young, zealous, and strong brothers are a joy and honor, and an adornment of the doctrine of Christ.

The zeal of the young ones is in its rightful place. If they are humble and attentive, they, too, when they have become older, will be found to be discerning and quiet. Then that will also be in its rightful place.

When such older ones lack the discernment they demand to see in the younger ones, it can be an indication that they themselves have never loved the good so much that they were gripped by zeal. Therefore they were neither zealous when it was fitting to be so, nor are they discerning when it is fitting to be discerning, while the young ones about whom they complain in their ignorance exercise zeal while it is fitting for them to do so and therefore have the great possibility of being an adornment of the doctrine of Christ later on—also with their insight and understanding. See Proverbs 22:13 and Song of Solomon 8:6.