Experts spend a lot of time trying to figure out what makes people successful. They often look at people’s credentials, intelligence, education, associates and other factors. But more than anything else, passion is what makes the difference they say.
While watching some volunteers struggle to serve the crowd and establish some order somewhere I need not name, I recalled my ordeal in Yei, South Sudan, during an evangelical outreach at the Freedom Square.
A crowd of over 1000 had gathered that evening and the stage was set.
An evangelical Karate team from the USA and another team of ministers led by Daniel King and my friend Greg Ford came pumped to preach the gospel and lead many to Christ. It was a memorable time.
The worship band were doing their thing on the stage as the crowd grew larger. The demonstration show by the martial artists involved smashing bricks and hard wood. We observed it could be dangerous to have the crowd too close to the action.
So one of the guys asked me to tell the crowd to back away from the stage. Their concern was well understood. An accident there could result in law suits and someone’s fortunes could change for better and for worse in a second.
As calmly as I could, I explained to those in front, the danger they faced by standing too close and pleaded with them to take a few steps back. But those behind wanted to come to the front to get a better viewing spot and when those in front started moving backwards, the scene became chaotic.
In my frustration, I jumped in front of the crowd from the stage and feeling like the biblical Samson, I began to push them back, using a tree branch I picked on the stage.
That act was stupidity at its finest. I still shudder at my ignominy that day. The drama I offered was a prelude to the main event.
They rushed forward the more, pressing hard on me; some laughing, grinning scornfully right in my face. With teeth gritted and adrenaline pumping, a mini war ensued. With their number and strength, I didn’t stand a chance.
But passion, mixed with a ting of anger went into overdrive and I pushed these folks with all my strength and at some point I thought I could really push them all the way and gain 10 meters.
My willpower was as strong as my passion, if not stronger. Just then, hot gas discharged accidentally from my buttocks in rapid succession and I knew I’d reached my limit.
My embarrassment was profound. I left the stage gasping for air. One of the international guests came to me and said, “Hey Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, I really thought you’re going to gain us a yard or two there.” He joked.
Then it hit me. You may have great passion and really work towards noble results, but that hymn says, “The arm of the flesh will fail you; Ye dare not trust your own.”
As we grow older, we should grow wiser. Sadly, it doesn’t always follow. Zeal for matters we are passionate about may continue to soar but lack of wisdom may betray noble Kingdom quests and the flesh, without warning, will pop up and take center stage.
Peter once said, “I go a fishing…” (John 21:3) James and John said, “Lord, do You desire that we command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them…” (Luke 9:54) and Martha labored passionately, waiting on Jesus, but didn’t get the credit she felt was due her.
Passion without heavenly wisdom (
James 3:17) will not only make a good comedy but could cause irreparable damage. I’ve seen that one could make honest mistakes with eternal consequences while fired up with passion in the pursuit of honorable causes.
One of the greatest tragedies in ministry is doing the right thing the wrong way and for the wrong reason, with no one to correct you.
Even in the abundance of knowledge, where the heart is void of love, grace and patience, a religious leader with serious anointing could operate endlessly as a demigod and never know it.
We’ll all need help sooner or later and must never be ashamed to ask for it. Sadly, insecure leaders detest correction and hardly delegate duties. They soon pay dearly for it.
Asking and answering the question “why…?”, is so vital, as we strive to serve God by serving men, especially the unreasonable ones.
Author: Uche Izuora
I'm inspired by God’s passion for His name in every generation, which provokes global worship through Jesus Christ. Becoming an emotionally healthy and transformative disciple, I aim to mobilize the Church to engage in cross-cultural missions and raise other like-minded disciples who discover themselves in Christ and seek to present and represent Him as Savior and Lord among the nations northward of Uganda.
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