“… He that hasteth with his feet sinneth.” (Proverbs 19:2)
We can feel pressed in our spirit to rush. We have to get somewhere. We have to do or get or say something. Scripture warns against moving in ungodly haste.
“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” (Prov. 28:22)
“Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” (Prov. 29:20)
“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (Eccl. 7:9)
But there is a good haste when it comes to doing what God wants us to do. “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments” (Psa. 119:60). When the Lord wanted David to seek His face, David dropped everything and sought His face. “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek” (Psa. 27:8).
Zacchaeus was given a limited time opportunity to meet Jesus. It had to be “today.” “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5) The lost man had just been found, and he was not going to blow his chance of being rescued. “And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully” (Luke 19:6).
There are times when it is wise for us to move without delay or procrastination; but there are other times when we need to slow down and move much more prayerfully and carefully. God help us to know when His Spirit is moving us, and when we are simply being pressed by our own spirit. Make sure your haste is holy.