Desire Without Knowledge: Lessons from My Early Years in Ministry

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

— Proverbs 19:2

This proverb has lingered in my mind for years. I first came across it as a teenager, long before I had any real understanding of its warning. At the time, I read it, highlighted it in my Bible, and perhaps even nodded in agreement. But I had not yet lived it.

It reminds me of a child whose mother warns him that the stove is hot. He hears her words but doesn’t truly know them until he touches the stove and feels the pain for himself. Some are wise enough to take the warning at face value, internalizing the lesson without experiencing its consequences. Others, like me, learn the hard way.

I wish my story had been one of prevenient grace—where God, in His mercy, had spared me from my own shortcomings. Of course, no one is beyond the reach of sin. We are all capable of falling. But some are graciously kept from stumbling into certain pitfalls. Why, then, do others falter? It is not that we are dragged kicking and screaming toward destruction. No one forces us. We make our own choices. And yet, somehow, in the mystery of God’s providence, even our failures are woven into His ultimate plan for our good and His glory.

Rushing Into Ministry

One such failure in my life was my hasty entry into pastoral ministry.

In my early twenties, I felt a strong call to preach. That calling was confirmed by those around me, not only because of my passion for the gospel but because I had a natural ability to communicate it. I could preach. I could lead worship. And so, by the age of 24, I was in full-time ministry—a role I remained in for almost a decade.

Looking back, I cringe. Not because of the sermons I preached—though there are plenty of those that I’d like to forget. Not because of the off-key notes I sang—though I’m sure I hit a few. Not even because of any theological immaturity—though I certainly had a lot to learn.

No, what troubles me most about those years is my lack of character.

It’s strange how quickly people can rise through the ranks of ministry. Young men with charisma and gifting are often thrust into leadership roles before they have been tested. Some of these men go on to be great pastors. But it does raise an important question:

Are we vetting young ministers properly?

Do we measure a man’s readiness for ministry by his talent or by his character?

Paul’s Standard for Ministers

Scripture gives us clear guidance on this issue. Paul lays out the qualifications for pastors in his letters to Timothy and Titus. If you read those passages carefully, you’ll notice something striking:

The list is not full of skills.

It doesn’t mention preaching ability, leadership charisma, or musical talent. Those things are secondary. Instead, Paul’s emphasis is overwhelmingly on character.

Here’s a sample of what Paul says a pastor must be:

• Above reproach

• The husband of one wife

• Sober-minded

• Self-controlled

• Respectable

• Hospitable

• Not a drunkard

• Not violent, but gentle

• Not quarrelsome

• Not a lover of money

• A good manager of his household (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

Notice that these are not things that can be taught in seminary. They aren’t learned through reading theology books or practicing a sermon outline. They are marks of a mature, godly man. And, most importantly, they take time to develop.

Character is not formed overnight. It is shaped through years of faithfulness, hardship, and refining. Some of these qualities may never fully develop in every man. But for the pastor, there is no option. They are not suggestions; they are requirements.

A Hard but Necessary Lesson

I wish I had taken those qualifications more seriously. I wish I had examined my own life before stepping into ministry. I wish I had spent more time becoming the kind of man who could lead with integrity rather than focusing on my ability to preach and lead worship.

But I didn’t.

And because of that, my time in ministry ended in failure.

That failure wasn’t due to a lack of gifting. It wasn’t a result of bad theology. It wasn’t even because of a lack of passion. It was because my character had not been tested and refined before I was placed in a position of leadership.

This is why we must take the biblical qualifications for ministry seriously—not only for the sake of the church but for the sake of the men themselves. When we place young, untested men into pastoral roles, we set them up for failure. We hand them a burden they may not be strong enough to carry. And when they inevitably stumble under its weight, the fallout is devastating.

Final Thoughts

If I could go back and talk to my 24-year-old self, I wouldn’t tell him to stop preaching. I wouldn’t tell him to abandon his calling. But I would tell him to slow down.

I would tell him to focus more on being a godly man than doing the work of ministry. I would tell him that no amount of talent, passion, or theological knowledge can compensate for a lack of character.

And most of all, I would tell him that Proverbs 19:2 is not just a wise saying—it’s a warning.

Desire without knowledge is dangerous. And rushing ahead without wisdom leads to ruin.

If you are a young man feeling called to ministry, my plea to you is this: Take your time. Be patient. Seek wisdom. Pursue godliness before you pursue a pulpit. Because no matter how gifted you are, if your character is not ready, the weight of ministry will crush you.

And if you are a church leader, I urge you: Do not rush young men into pastoral ministry based on talent alone. Test them. Disciple them. Ensure that they meet the biblical qualifications before giving them the responsibility of shepherding souls.

Because the consequences of ignoring these qualifications are not just personal—they are eternal.