Word Study: Zealous - Ben and Me

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Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.
–Yoda

Our new homeschool year has begun and with it comes more word studies.

I recently used the word “zealous” to describe Ben, and once I convinced him I had not called him “jealous” we enjoyed learning more about the meaning of this word. When I used the word describing Ben, it really wasn’t in any kind of spiritual sense. He simply wanted me to buy something for him when we were at Wal-Mart, and the enthusiasm with which he asked led me to say,

“Ben, I don’t think you could have been more zealous in your request!” To which he replied, “I’m not jealous! I just want really want these Star Wars figures!”

Ben often shows excitement for Star Wars figures. Or Star Wars Legos. Or Star Wars movies.

You get the picture.

Anyway, because I think zealous is a cool word and can be certainly used in a spiritual sense, we spent some time later learning more about what it means, and for what things we should be zealous in life.

For those of you not familiar with the term, “word study”:

The Word Study: Defining a Biblical Worldview — The word study involves more than going to a dictionary to define a word. It is the method of scholarship that puts the student on the pathway of developing the habits of reflective thinking and deductive reasoning from Scripture. The word study places the truths of God’s Word at the center of all learning, which illuminates the understanding and consecrates the mind.

Word Study:

Builds vocabulary

Increases reading comprehension and verbal scores

Establishes precise word usage in written and oral communication

Cultivates the habit of critical thinking

Produces deductive reasoning skills — cause (internal) to effect (external)

Sharpens discernment of truth from error

Inculcates lifetime habits of scholarship and aids in establishing a Biblical worldview

When doing a Word Study, there are 4 steps:

Research: The word is defined, using Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, key words are identified within the definition, and the key words are defined. Each word is then researched using a Bible concordance.
Reason: A definition of the word is written in your own words.
Relate: Application of the definition and the Biblical principles deduced are written, according to the intended purpose and your own life.
Record: The completed work is filed in your notebook

These 4 steps are commonly known as 4-R’ing in the world of the Principle Approach® and can and should be a tool used by both teacher and student. You don’t have to be a Principle Approach® homeschooler to do word studies. Obviously, it’s a great tool for everyone!

Today’s word for study is ZEALOUS.

According to the Webster’s 1828:

Zealous: a. Warmly engaged or ardent in the pursuit of an object.

Key Word Definitions:

Warm: a. passionate; keen; easily excited or provoked; busy in action; fanciful; enthusiastic; vigorous

Engage: v. to encounter; to embark in any business; to take a concern in; to undertake; to bind one’s self

Ardent: a. having the appearance or quality of fire; fierce; passionate

Pursuit: n. the act of following with the view to overtake, reach, accomplish, or obtain; proceeding

Object: n. something presented to the senses or the mind, to excite emotion, affection or passion

Zealous Defined in My Own Words:

Pursuing something with excitement, passion, affection, or enthusiasm, with the goal to accomplish, encounter, or obtain it. On fire.

Biblical References:

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:19)

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:11)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:14)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. (Colossians 3:23)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.(Matthew 6:33)

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

My Thoughts:

God has created us to be zealous for Him!

What would the world be like if Christians were all zealous — passionate, enthusiastic, excited — in their pursuit of Christ and advancing his kingdom?

Unstoppable? Anticipatory? Anxious? Ready at a moment’s notice?

Instead we are often self-absorbed, distracted, selfish.

God grants us the opportunity to pursue him zealously every day as we encounter those in need of Christ and his salvation. He tells us the greatest commandments are to love Him and love our neighbor. And yet we zealously pursue the things of this world, while giving Christ our leftovers (if that).

We serve ourselves with zeal, while being slothful in our service to Him.

We read email before we read the Word. We fall asleep with quick “thank you for another day” utterings because we forgot to spend time in prayer earlier in the day.

As Ben and I discussed what it meant to be zealous and then went deeper reflecting on how zealous we are (or aren’t) for Christ, he became a bit sullen for a moment.

“Does this mean I shouldn’t be so excited about my new toys?”

I loved his question because it gave me a glimpse into something that I believe many of us wonder about —

Does everything have to be about Him?

The answer is yes. It most definitely does. And yes, you can be excited about new Star Wars toys!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

When we understand that everything comes to us as a gift from God, I believe we will all become more zealous in pursuit of Him.

My prayer for Ben is that his zeal for encountering God will always be stronger than his zeal for Star Wars. I want us both to always be “on fire” for Jesus!