“Set yourself on fire with passion and the world will come to watch you burn." - UnknownThis quote (or variations of it) has traditionally been attributed to John Wesley. But, from what I have read, this seems to be more legend than fact. I was somewhat comforted to learn that Wesley apparently never said these words.
As for the quote itself, there is something quite beautiful about it on the one hand. And, then perhaps something bothersome and ignoble on the other. As Christians, we should strive to "set ourselves on fire" as it were. To burn with a righteous passion for the things that God loves. To fan the flames of zeal for His name. Oh, that we had a heart with this kind of unrelenting zeal. And, if that were our temperature, I suppose that as a by-product many around would marvel with astonishment and even curiosity as to how one could be so alive and passionate for God's glory.
And, on the other hand, I suppose the quote - if read another way - in some way rings hollow. The end of such a godly zeal would rightly be a clearer view of the glory of God. God's name would be elevated. And, yet the end attributed here is that the world would come to watch. Maybe I am being too exacting on this point. After all, I don't even know the context of this quote. And, I suppose a watching world could also be a glorious thing as well - that the tantalizing passion for God's glory seen in another, could whet the appetite of the seeker.
At any rate, I have always really liked this quote. And, I still do. But, it probably deserves a second look.
