Enthusiasm Vs

Enthusiasm vs. Apathy

Enthusiasm is God’s energy in my spirit expressing itself through my mind, will, and emotions. he flame of a candle Definition brotherly love; in honour prefer- Tis like enthusiasm in our ring one another; Not slothful in souls—self-consuming. The word enthusiasm is de- business; fervent in spirit; serving The flame of an oil lamp rived from two Greek words, en the Lord” (Romans 12:9–11). meaning “in” and theos, which is like enthusiasm in our Scripture identifies specific means “God.” To be enthusiastic areas in which to be enthusiastic spirits—continuous when is to be energized and inspired by and then adds further instruction properly filled. God. A Biblical counterpart to on how to do it. “But it is good to this word is fervent from the be zealously affected always in a “Be filled with the Spirit,” and Greek word zeo meaning “to boil good thing” (Galatians 4:18). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you with heat, be hot.” It is used richly in all wisdom.” metaphorically of “fervency of —Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16 spirit,” as in boiling with genuine What Are We to Be love for God and others. Enthusiastic About? Another Biblical term for enthusiasm is zeal, which comes • Be enthusiastic about God. from the Greek word zelos mean- Paul was “zealous toward ing “excitement of mind, ardor, God” even before his conversion. fervor of spirit.” Zelos is ardor in (See Acts 22:3.) However, he had “zeal pursuing, embracing, or defending without knowledge.” He was zeal- someone or something. Another ous of the religious traditions of his word for enthusiasm is earnest. The forefathers. (See Galatians 1:14.) When Hebrew word charah, translated he became a believer, however, earnestly, means “to be hot, furious; he transferred that same zeal to to burn; to blaze up; to be kindled.” advancing the kingdom of God. A Biblical expression for enthusi- Noah Webster’s American asm is to “leap for joy,”and is ex- Dictionary of the English Language pressed by the Greek word skirtao, (1828), defines enthusiasm as a meaning “to jump, to leap.” “. . . violent passion or excitement of the mind, in pursuit of some aintaining Commands to Be object, inspiring . . . confidence of Menthusiasm requires con- success. [It is] . . . the same heat of Enthusiastic imagination, chastised by reason tinuous fellowship with Every believer is instructed or experience, [that] becomes a the Word of God and the to be enthusiastic in the basic noble passion . . . [and] an ardent Spirit of God. matters of Christian living. “Let zeal. . . . [It] forms sublime ideas love be without dissimulation. and prompts to the ardent pur- “Quench not the Spirit.” Abhor that which is evil; cleave suit of laudable objects. . . . Such —I Thessalonians 5:19 to that which is good. Be kindly is the enthusiasm of the patriot, affectioned one to another with the hero and the christian [sic].”

82 Enthusiasm The Power for True Success, ©2001 by the Institute in Basic Life Principles • www.iblp.org • Be enthusiastic about The humpback whale shows its enthusiasm loving others. for life by energetically leaping into midair and “Above all things have fer- singing songs that reverberate for hundreds of vent charity among yourselves: miles through the ocean waters. for charity shall cover the multi- tude of sins” (I Peter 4:8). The Corinthian believers exercised “gave himself for us, that he fervent love toward Paul. Titus might redeem us from all iniquity, “told us your earnest desire, your and purify unto himself a peculiar mourning, your fervent mind people, zealous of good works” toward me; so that I rejoiced the (Titus 2:14). Based on this, we are more” (II Corinthians 7:7). able to “provoke [one another] Fervent love is possible only if unto love and to good works” we first purify our souls by obeying (Hebrews 10:24). God’s truth. Otherwise we will The enthusiasm of the have a mixture of affection with Corinthian believers in giving wrong motives and desires: “See- an offering for needy believers ing ye have purified your souls motivated others to follow their in obeying the truth through the example. Paul wrote, “Your zeal Spirit unto unfeigned love of the [in giving] hath provoked very nthusiasm is brethren, see that ye love one an- many” (II Corinthians 9:2). other with a pure heart fervently” Epassionate devotion to • Be enthusiastic about (I Peter 1:22). the work of God. repentance. • Be enthusiastic about prayer. The same zeal we are to “Every man is at his best “The effectual fervent prayer have in serving God and others, of a righteous man availeth much we are to have in maintaining a when he adds enthusiasm to [makes much power available]” good conscience toward God and . . . his undertakings.” (James 5:16). One of Paul’s co-laborers man. The Laodicean believers, —John Wanamaker joined him in having this mind of for whom Epaphras earnestly prayer for other believers: “Epa- prayed, lacked enthusiasm. They phras, who is one of you, a servant were not “hot” for their Lord; they of Christ, saluteth you, always were “lukewarm.” God reproved labouring fervently for you in them for this condition and warned prayers, that ye may stand perfect them to repent. and complete in all the will of God. “I know thy works, that thou For I bear him record, that he hath art neither cold nor hot: I would a great zeal for you, and them that thou wert cold or hot. So then are in Laodicea, and them in Hier- because thou art lukewarm, and apolis” (Colossians 4:12–13). neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. . . . As many • Be enthusiastic about as I love, I rebuke and chasten: good works. nthusiasm is the be zealous therefore, and repent” All believers are to be enthu- Eby-product of a life (Revelation 3:15–16, 19). siastic about doing sacrificial works purpose worth dying for. that will benefit others. These • Be enthusiastic about trials works must be done without any and reproaches. “It is good to be zealously affected motive of personal reward or Jesus taught us to “rejoice, always in a good thing.” glory. They should be carried out and be exceeding glad” when we —Galatians 4:18 so that others get the credit and are persecuted for Christ’s sake. God gets the glory. Jesus Christ (See Matthew 5:12.) Paul took “plea-

The Power for True Success, ©2001 by the Institute in Basic Life Principles • www.iblp.org Enthusiasm 83 sure in infirmities, in reproaches, the Lord caused him to pour out in necessities, in persecutions, his life for believers on the altar in distresses for Christ’s sake” of sacrifice. (See Philippians 2:17.) (II Corinthians 12:10). • Apollos was “an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures . . . . How Do We Generate Being fervent in the spirit, he Enthusiasm? spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord” (Acts 18:24–25). Genuine enthusiasm is not something we activate by our own • Regarding the household of energy. Harmonious interaction Stephanas, Scripture states “that with the Holy Spirit of God pro- they have addicted themselves nthusiasm turns duces enthusiasm. For this reason, to the ministry of the saints” Eordinary actions into we are to “quench not the Spirit,” (I Corinthians 16:15). extraordinary achievements. nor grieve Him with things in our lives that displease Him (I Thessa- Personal Evaluation “Not by might, nor by power, but lonians 5:19; see also Ephesians 4:30). It is important to distinguish by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” How enthusiastic are you? the enthusiasm of our spirits from —Zechariah 4:6 • Do you give energy to all the excitement of our souls. Those those around you by being who try to stir up enthusiasm in their minds, wills, or emotions enthusiastic? nthusiasm is the will eventually experience depres- • Have you experienced the Esecret energy of those sion and burnout. indwelling of the Holy Spirit who are truly successful. Enthusiasm in the soul is through salvation in Christ? like a candle. It gives light, but it • As a believer, have you “Wherever you are, be all is self-consuming. On the other asked your Heavenly Father there. Live to the hilt every hand, enthusiasm generated in to fill your life with the situation you believe to be the spirit is like the flame of an oil Holy Spirit? lamp. As long as we are filled by the will of God.” —Jim Elliot • Do you experience emo- the Spirit of God and the Word of tional drain or depression God, enthusiasm, like an oil-filled by trying to act enthusiastic lamp, will burn indefinitely. with your emotions rather The Psalmist describes the than through God’s Spirit? way in which the spirit encourages the soul in enthusiasm, because • Do you fill the “lamp” of it is possible for the soul to be your spirit with daily fel- sorrowful and the spirit to be lowship with God through enthusiastic at the same time. His Spirit and His Word? “Why art thou cast down, O my • Do you give everyone a soul? and why art thou disquieted warm, enthusiastic smile, within me? hope thou in God: for or only those who are your I shall yet praise him, who is the close friends? health of my countenance, and • Do you get more excited my God” (Psalm 42:11). about sports than the chal- nthusiasm is Who Demonstrated lenge of the Christian life? Eexpressing to those • Do you read novels more around me the power Enthusiasm? fervently than you study of God’s working in me. • Paul was a champion of enthu- the Scriptures? siasm. His fervency and zeal for