Passion

Jim Cramer is the host of CNBC’s “Mad Money.” By just seeing the name of the program and watching a show or two, you will get the idea that he is “a little over the top.” In other words, he says what he thinks and is passionate about it. Well, a couple of weeks ago, Jim Cramer went a little too far, even for him. On a Friday, when the stock market was plunging, he called for a cut in the interest rates by the Federal Reserve. During his plea for a cut, he had what most news services described as a “meltdown”—He yelled, screamed, ranted and raved about why the chairman of the Reserve should cut the rate. It was, even for those who had seen Cramer before, bizarre. Later, he was giving interviews and trying to explain himself because some people thought he had lost his mind. In his explanations, he said that his outrageous rant was one born of passion and concern for the millions of people who would lose their homes because of the market troubles.
Now, I am not going to defend Jim Cramer’s outburst. For one thing, it may have even been staged (after all, he is a TV host). For another, he really did, in my opinion, go too far. However, I will comment on his confessed concern for people who were going to suffer foreclosure after taking risky loans—I hope that people who trade in stock care about the “little people” they affect with their decisions. Furthermore, I think the world would be a better place if everyone would be more thoughtful about people than about money or things.
A similar incident occurred in the life of Paul: “And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (Acts 26:24). I have no way of knowing to what extent Paul expressed his zeal in that situation, except for the words of Festus. But, in some way, he apparently became very passionate in order to persuade his listeners. In that same sermon, Paul appealed to Agrippa II that he (Agrippa) might “become such as I am—except for these chains.”
As we think about life and about the thinks we get upset about, maybe we ought to think a little more about zeal and passion for the really important things in life. What if we channeled that passion in constructive ways? We could put more effort and concern into our family relationships and friendships. And, we could certainly put more zeal in our efforts to reach the lost.
“I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words” (Acts 26:25).