July 8-9 – What's your motivation?

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames” - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

Anyone who has visited Corinth, and the marketplace there, will have noticed a raised platform constructed from carved stones-the city's judgement seat. This was one of the sites where, twenty centuries ago, the Apostle Paul ministered so untiringly, and also stood on that very spot as the Roman Proconsul Gallio sat on the judgement seat (Acts 18:13-17). Later, Paul was to write to believers in Corinth comparing his appearance at Corinth's judgement seat with the appearance each individual will face before “the judgement seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10) determining our reward on how well we have followed Christ....Jesus will examine and reveal our motives and the quality of our service (2 Corinthians 3:10-15; 4:5)

Paul's motivation, and the source of his courage throughout persecution is clear, “But now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

So, what's your motivation – my motivation?

Jesus was walking in the temple in Jerusalem when one of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12: 28-31.

Love, and love alone was the motivation for every action of Jesus, from His planned birth, to His death and resurrection. And, according to the Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Sotah Folio 31a, love was the highest motivation, even among the Jews. We read in the Talmud:
"What difference is there between one who acts from love and one who acts from fear? — The difference is that indicated in this teaching: R. Simeon b. Eleazar says: Greater is he who acts from love than he who acts from fear…" Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Sotah Folio 31a.

Love prompts to action, first and foremost directed toward God and then toward others: God, family (especially our mate), fellow-believers, our neighbour, and even our enemy. Love subordinates the interests of the lover to the one who is loved. Love inspires deliberate, diligent, self-sacrificial service to others, intended for their good, at our expense.

“Love is greater than faith and hope because love is eternal, while faith and hope are temporal (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-13). In this life what God has promised cannot be seen, so faith and hope are necessary. But when our Lord returns and we're living eternally in His presence, we'll no longer need faith, because we shall see Him and experience all that He has promised. Our hope will be fulfilled. Our love for Him, however, will last for all eternity, inspiring our worship and service in His presence” (Bible.org).

Perhaps these questions will help narrow our focus – What is your motivation in life, your motivation to serve?....my motivation?

Why are we planning a certain course of action? Why are we involved? Why do we say “yes” or “no” when asked to participate? Why did I write that letter? For those of us who are preachers or lay preachers, why am I preaching this message? In our personal relationships, why did I respond like that...and why mention that persons name?

For music today we have the Gaither Vocal Band singing “Let it Start in Me" (LIVE). Click on the picture to listen.