Enthusiastic people are fun to be around! Sure, they can be annoying at times, especially if they are enthusiastic about your rival sports team. But, in total, enthusiasm is attractive, exciting, and contagious. Enthusiasm is particularly effective in the work place, in building relationships, and in creating a joy-filled atmosphere. Why is that? Would you believe that enthusiasm is a holy thing? The word comes from a Greek word meaning “possessed by God.” Even today the second definition of the word in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “belief in special revelations of the Holy Spirit”! Who knew?! Not only is enthusiasm a holy thing, it is a choice more than it is a response. When you choose it, you allow God to work through you. Let me explain…
The Christian Worldview maintains that every human being was created in the image or likeness of God. This doesn’t necessarily mean we look like God in our appearance but that we are like Him in our ability to create, to think, to express, to love, to give, and to live. This places immeasurable value on every human life and gives tremendous dignity to the human spirit. As such, the Scriptures show us that God is a loving God who delights in His creation. He is enthusiastic about it! After all, it’s hard to be more “possessed by God” than being God Himself! God is enthusiastic in how He creates, cares for, calls upon, restores, and rescues. When we express that same enthusiasm we are simply showing our family resemblance. We demonstrate the life of His spirit when we express enthusiasm in our life, relationships, work and worship. (Click here to read my post, “What You Focus On Draws You In”)
Great Minds Think Alike
I believe part of what makes enthusiasm so attractive is the supernatural quality it contains. Some of the greatest leaders and thinkers of all-time have recognized the power of enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Alexander Hamilton said (or perhaps even rapped), “There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Nobel laureate Edward Appleton said, “I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill.” And one of my favorites is from Arthur Balfour who said, “Enthusiasm moves the world.” Not all of these men claimed to be Christians or even to believe in God. However, the power of enthusiasm was evident to them all. That in itself is a reminder that enthusiasm is a holy thing. So how do we get it if we’ve lost it?
The longer we live life the easier it is to be disappointed, disillusioned, and frustrated by the difficulties of life. This throws a wet blanket on our enthusiasm if we allow. Therein lies the first challenge in regaining our enthusiasm. We must refuse to be diminished by the challenges of life. We all face challenges and we all have good reason to be cynical or rundown. However, in resisting that temptation we allow the spark of enthusiasm to stay lit. Some will think enthusiasm is for positive, extroverted people who simply refuse to deal with reality. I would suggest that enthusiasm is for anyone who chooses to not be muted by reality and determines to choose their attitude rather than have it dictated to them by circumstance. Enthusiasm is much more a courages choice than a passive response. (Click here to read my post, “Some Miracles Are Up To You”)
The Bottom Line
Finally, if we are to be en-thused (taken from the Greek en -Theos or “in God”) we cannot expect to do it without God’s help! No, not everyone will agree with the supernatural aspect of enthusiasm but I believe what the Greeks were trying to identify through their coining of the phrase was that people who have a zeal for life, a passion and joy that fuels them is not natural. It is super-natural. I agree. And I believe when we do our work each day with genuine enthusiasm we participate in God’s divine nature.
That participation invites people into the place of wonder that takes them beyond the mundane and causes them to ask where such joy comes from. My hope for myself and for you is that when people ask, the answer we will have is our personal relationship with God, through the man Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Enthusiasm is a holy thing and when we use it and allow it to bring glory to God our life, our relationships and our work take on greater meaning and purpose. Now that is exciting! (Click here to read my post, “Fall In Love With What You Have”)
From the Bible
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
“Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.’ Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work.” – 2 Timothy 2:15 LB
“Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying” – Romans 12:11-12 NLT