Be Zealous For The Good Thing

The Apostle Paul, like a spiritual physician, pointedly diagnoses the ailment which is afflicting the church: they are not being persistent in pursuing the pure and good doctrine of the gospel, and are distracted by the hawkers of spiritual prosperity. But "…the apostle here furnishes us with a very good rule to direct and regulate us in the exercise of our zeal: there are two things which to this purpose he more especially recommends to us: - 1.) That it be exercised only upon that which is good; for zeal is then only good when it is in a good thing: those who are zealously affected to that which is evil will thereby only to do so much the more hurt. And, 2.) That herein it be constant and steady: it is good to be zealous always in a good thing; not for a time only, or now and then, like the heat of an ague-fit [a fever (as malaria) marked by a sudden attack of chills, fever, and sweating that recur at regular intervals], but, like the natural heat of the body, constant. Happy would it be for the church of Christ if this rule were better observed among Christians!" (M. Henry) We live in a world full of distractions and spiritual ware-mongers. It is easy to be likewise distracted. The apostle exhorts us to a more steady and regulated pursuit of the good. – Pastor Schlegel