Romans 10:1-2: Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Though Paul desired and prayed for the salvation of his fellow Jews, he acknowledged that many of them did not obey God. They were zealous for God, but their zeal was “not according to knowledge.” Paul’s own example shows how dangerous misdirected zeal can be (cf. Phil. 3:6).
Misdirected zeal remains a problem today.
Some are zealous about prayer, but pray to fulfill worldly lusts (James 4:3), instead of praying to thank God (1 Thess. 5:18), intercede for others (1 Tim. 2:1), and ask for help in serving Him (cf. Eph. 6:19).
Some are zealous about worshipping God, but see worship as entertainment for mankind, rather than reverence toward God (cf. John 4:24).
Some are zealous about being guided by God, but believe this guidance comes from feelings or God speaking to us today in the way He spoke to prophets of old, rather than acknowledging that Scripture makes us “thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17).
While we must be zealous for God, we must also properly direct that zeal.
May we examine our service to God to ensure our zeal is according to knowledge.
– Michael Hickox