Don´t Get So Excited! (at Least So Quickly) Proverbs 19:2-3

7/11/2010 - Don´t Get So Excited! (at Least So Quickly) Proverbs 19:2-3

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Don´t Get So Excited! (at Least So Quickly)

REFERENCE: Proverbs 19:2-3 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. 3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

Observation: Why is enthusiasm without knowledge a dangerous thing? For at least two reasons; first, we may be enthusiastic about the wrong thing. Haven´t we all seen someone who was totally wound up about something that wasn´t worth the energy they were putting into it, or worse, was leading them down the Garden Path? Before we invest our enthusiasm in something, we owe it to ourselves to take the time to check it out carefully. As Proverbs says elsewhere, "in a multitude of counselors there is safety". In other words, ask others who are wise and get their advice as well before plunging in.

The second reason that enthusiasm without knowledge is no good is that enthusiasm alone is not enough. Gloria and I remodeled our home. Beyond getting excited about doing it, we had to find out how to do it. I wanted to refinish the wood floors we have myself. My brother, who is a contractor, tells me that this would not be a good idea. I have the enthusiasm, I don´t have the knowledge and so I probably would do a poor job. Before we dove into any of our projects, we studied and asked knowledgably people. We wanted to add to our excitement wisdom and that is what knowledge brings.
Many people dive into whatever catches their fancy. They don´t ask God, they don´t get wise counsel. Then, when it blows up in their face, (as this approach inevitably will) they blame God. I have had perfectly intelligent people sit across from me in counseling and ask of their obviously poor choice; "why didn´t God stop me!" They had not asked Him, they were not listening to Him, but they are upset at Him that He did not stop Him.

If we want God´s involvement in our decisions and directions, the time to involve Him is at the beginning. Before we pursue our enthusiasms, ask Him; find out if He is as excited about it as we are. Then we will be in a place of true safety.

Application/Confession: I can have a million ideas. Some are good, some are not. I really need to slow down and get God´s wisdom before I pursue any of them. It is easy to mistake a good idea for a God idea. I want to be doing what He is blessing, not just what I excites me at the moment.

PRAYER: Thank you for my enthusiasm and energy. Teach me to focus them on the things You are doing and blessing.

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