A dear young man came to meet me about a marital decision. He seemed very passionate about the young lady he wanted to propose to, but I felt it’s not yet time. I did my best to supply him with wisdom and balance, but he was unyielding. The result was a relationship that never materialised. He did not balance passion with wisdom.
Friend, you need to balance passion with wisdom (Proverbs 4:7). Just as nobody can stand on one leg for long, you cannot live life with just passion without wisdom and vice versa. Normally, young people are full of passion but may not have the wisdom to operate safely, smoothly, sustainably, and successfully in their passion. This is where older people come in (Acts 18:24-28).
Elders are needed to establish order in our lives (Titus 1:5). Elders are not necessarily those who are very old. They are those who have been through life and have acquired wisdom by experience. If your age and experiences count for something or reflect wisdom, you are an elder. But if not, you are not (Job 32:5-9).
Young people must be humble enough to accommodate the wisdom of elders in their decisions and actions (Proverbs 31:1-7). Elders must also be patient enough to allow young people to express their passion with the right guidance (2 Timothy 1:6). God is always working with the old and the new at the same time. The revival of the last days must accommodate both streams; the latter and the former rain (Hosea 6:3).
God will always place voices of wisdom close enough to you, but it is your responsibility to see and maximise such. Imagine how close Jethro was to Moses and Eli to Samuel, and you would realise that God will never leave you stranded (1 Samuel 3:8-11, Exodus 18:17-24). Your ignorance or pride may be the problem.
This year, stay passionate about your life, career, business, ministry, and finance. But always remember to listen to the voice of wisdom (Proverbs 8:1-6). Passion is like the accelerator in your vehicle, while wisdom is like the brake. You must know when to accelerate and when to slow down or apply the brake (Proverbs 2:11). This is what wisdom will bring to your life. Remember, it is better to appear slow and be safe than to be fast and crash.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria