Ecclesiastes 7:16-17
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?
To be excessive is to cross the line
Whether it’s something good or something evil, don’t do anything excessively. If you overly refrain from doing things, or if you act too cautiously, you will incur losses and be unable to gain what’s necessary: for example, when you become overly righteous to the point where you perceive even aspects of righteousness as sins. This also pertains to controlling the degree of your character, emotions, and habits. Furthermore, to excessively oppose the figures whom God uses is also crossing the line and going beyond one’s authority.
Overdoing things will lead to conflicts resulting from ignorance. Extreme foolishness may even lead to death in the course of overdoing things that cause the body to malfunction or become diseased.
The secret to not overdoing things
To not overdo anything is to live according to God’s Word and God’s Will. People are only happy when they put their own thoughts into practice; having to yield to others does not bring them joy. Therefore, getting rid of your own thoughts is best so that you can live with God’s mentality—and thereby live in agreement with God. This will prevent you from crossing the line.
You should understand God’s heart while believing in and following Him. Know that God endures even when He is angry, and He is generous even when He is not treated well. Knowing and understanding the greatness of God’s love and forgiveness will help you to avoid going overboard in many situations. Therefore, surely make the effort to understand God’s heart and to know the value of His love.