Two people can be doing the exact same thing outwardly, and yet in their hearts be motivated by different reasons. This proposes a question that each one of us must answer. Why do you do the things that you do? There are only three possibilities: to please my fellow man, to please myself, or to please Jesus.
The Bible itself enables us to identify our actions and motivations categorically. Scripture tells us plainly what is outwardly of the flesh, and what is inwardly of the Spirit; what is heavenly wisdom, and what is not. However, God’s Word also warns us that we can do magnanimous things for the wrong reasons.
God the Father displayed His love for us by sending Jesus, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). Contrary to popular opinion, man is not by nature “a god” waiting to blossom, but rather an accident waiting to happen unless Jesus Christ steps into his life. Our only reasonable response would be to gratefully surrender in obedience to His word, motivated by love. You see, if we are serving the Lord for any other motive, Scripture says that it will be ‘smokey’ at our evaluation (1 Cor 3:13-15) as well as a real drag here on earth. Whether it’s giving to the Lord, eating or drinking, or whatever we do, we should do it for the glory of God.
Reader, ask yourself, what motivates you in your Christian walk? Are there areas in your life where you are motivated by selfishness, or a desire to be seen as a man or woman of deep spirituality, or even to make you feel good about yourself? Fleshly motivation is the ‘delivery room’ for jealousy, envy, and conflict. It’s the fountainhead supplying the undercurrent of greed in the ‘health and wealth’ camp.
Our Lord wants us secure in His love, not wavering in insecurity due to impure motives or unfavorable crowd approval! Life is short, death is sure; sin the cause, Christ the cure.
Let Jesus’ love motivate you in whatever you are doing. Do it to please Him. You won’t be sorry.
