While there are a lot of gems in today’s reading, verse 2 is the one we’ll reflect on. It says, “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.” Why did I choose this one? I suppose because I have always been a very enthusiastic person. I can get very caught up in the excitement of a new product, a new experience, new friends, new assignment, etc. I often look around and see somber faces when I am bubbling up from inside wondering, “what’s wrong with them? Why isn’t everyone as animated as I am?”
They are probably better discerners than I am. They are waiting to get excited until after they do their due diligence and investigate to gain knowledge. Is this even something worth their time? They want to make sure their enthusiasm is well-founded. Of course, that just makes sense. When we hurry and rush into a decision, we are leaving ourselves wide open to make mistakes and ultimately the wrong decision.
It’s best to slow down. While making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn, rushing into things without thinking or calculating will end up in mistakes we could have avoided. You’ve heard, “haste makes waste?” Even that little phrase sums up with Solomon is warning us here. If we rush, we can waste a lot of time, energy, resources, etc. It’s “no good.”
Another little phrase that fits here is “look before you leap.” Nobody can deny that David and I took a “leap” of faith when we moved to Mexico in 2016. I know I was very enthusiastic about the whole idea of retiring early and moving to a warmer climate. But we did our due diligence. We prayed. We researched. We visited and explored. We prayed a lot during that time, and the decision became more and more clear. Did we make mistakes? Yes. But all in all, the decision was exactly what God wanted for us, and he has blessed us with a new life full of adventure and fulfilled dreams.
Do you put yourself in the overly enthusiastic camp or are you more reserved and thoughtful? I don’t think Solomon is saying enthusiasm is bad but rushing into something without thinking does leave us wide open to failure and mistakes. So, make sure when you find yourself excited by something you slow down and take time to think through the decision, gain some knowledge to make sure it is worth your time, and never forget to pray.
When something seems to good to be true, it probably is. Take time to pray. Ask God for discernment. Read the Bible and see if you find any passages that would warn you against this thing you are so enthusiastic about. You can also ask a trusted believer, a friend who will give you good advice. When all of these indicators line up, you will have the knowledge you need to proceed. When we take time to slow down, the outcome can be so much richer.
Let’s pray … Lord, thank you for this reminder today. I know that time is precious. Forgive me for trying to pack so many things into each day. I do tend to get overly enthusiastic at times. Help me to dial it in, slow down, and rely on your wisdom, on knowledge gained from the counsel of others or my own investigation. Still my heart so I can hear and be obedient. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
