“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11 NIV).
The cover story of this month’s issue of Wired is entitled “Geek Power” and the whole issue follows that theme. One of the “geeks” that they write about in an article entitled, “The Robotic Pancreas,” is Jeffrey Brewer. Brewer is the cofounder of two early internet successes: Citysearch and GoTo.com. He used to put in 100-hour weeks developing these two companies, but by 2001, at the age of 32, he had made enough money to live on for the rest of his life. So, he took a year off to live in Australia with his wife and two kids.
When Brewer and his family returned to the States they noticed that their 7-year old son, Sean, was always thirsty and using the bathroom more than usual. When they took him to the doctor, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
After nurses taught the Brewers how to give their son insulin and check his sugar level, Jeffrey was shocked by the antiquated approach. He said, “I was testing Sean every few hours, and I’m thinking, this is crying out for automation. A computer should do this and would do it better. Why didn’t this exist, with all that we can do?”
And so began a new passion for Jeffrey Brewer. Over the next few years, he put the same intense passion into developing a better technology for diabetics that he once had poured into his internet startups. His passion has led him to join the board of directors for the JDRF – Juvenile Diabeters Research Foundation, to donate millions of his own money and to focus his considerable intellect and influence on helping his son.
Brewer’s intense passion has changed what many said would take decades, into confidence that a FDA approved, semi-automated insulin dispenser will be available within five years.
Passion is the measure of intensity of an emotion. It’s what the Bible sometimes calls “zeal” or “fervor.” Passion is like fuel that burns within us to accomplish or obtain a thing.
But human passion can run out or it can run awry. What we need is God’s power for passion. We need God’s kind of life-giving, focused and intense power for living. Then, we will never be “lacking in zeal or spiritual fervor” for serving the Lord.
Jeffrey Brewer was moved by passion for his son. We can be moved by God’s powerful passion for us. Nothing against “geek power,” but I’m depending on God’s power to continually renew my passion.
Where have you lost your passion? In your marriage? At work or school? What about your passion for God? Ask God to renew your passion. It really changes things.