What motivates us?
At this time of year many of us are jumping into new roles, maybe at work, school, uni or church. It’s worthwhile asking ourselves what’s motivating us, what gets us out of bed in the morning to do what we do? Maybe it’s the need to be loved, valued and approved of by others. Maybe it’s simply money – either the burning desire to accumulate wealth or the more desperate struggle just to make ends meet. Maybe it’s power and we’re driven by the need to be the person in control. Maybe it’s security and we continually strive to protect ourselves from every possible negative outcome.
As a Christian the phrase that springs to mind when I think of this is “Christ’s love compels us.” (2 Cor 5 v 14) – our driving force should be rooted in the love of Christ. When I look at what Christ did on the cross, two things really jump out at me. The first is just how seriously God takes sin. Those choices we made that rejected him as Lord of our life meant that we could not have the relationship with him we were designed to have. The second is the extent of God’s love for us. As Paul goes on to say in the above verses, his love led him, the creator and sustainer of the universe to give his life for us – his creation.
When we consider this message, the message of the gospel, it should lead us to a heartfelt response. Firstly, of love for Christ, then secondly to live lives motivated by love for others. What do our lives look like when the decisions we make spring from the motivation of love, not from motives of greed, power, self-protection or the need for approval?
If we were in the fortunate position of deciding between two jobs, would the pay scale be the deciding factor or would we truly seek God and consider the good we could do for others? When we are faced with situations of conflict do we avoid it and take the road of self-protection, do we exert what power we have to ensure we get our own way or do we face the issue with love and humility and strive for reconciliation?
As Christians we need to daily bring our decisions before God and honestly seek to make decisions that are rooted in the love of Christ and our response to this love, not our own selfish desires and interests.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Matt 12 v 30-31