Have you ever stopped to consider why you do what you do? Your job, your relationships, your home, your vehicles: why do you have the things you have and do the things you do? If many of us were honest, we’d say “for my personal gratification and satisfaction,” but we’d also realize that this falls flat. We’re never REALLY satisfied in material things, and if the relationship isn’t centered on the RIGHT things (or Person), we end up eking out an existence, or leaving it all together. This question: “what’s my motivation?” is an important one.
Loved ones, our lives are only ever right if we’re centered on Christ. There is no sin of having wealth, but the danger of wealth is to worship the work of our hands and devote all of our time to it. There is no sin of having power, but the danger of power is to worship position. There is no sin of having influence, but the danger of influence is to compromise constantly to keep our constituency happy. So my suggestion, whether rich or poor, powerful or subservient, influential or alone: check your motivation. In all things, seek to honor Christ. Every day, in every way, seek to walk with Jesus. There is nothing in this life we can take with us, but, unless the Lord comes quickly, we shall all die and be faced with eternity. Jesus is our only hope. He is the only sufficient atonement for sin that can please the Father, and, indeed, the only way to the Father. He had victory over sin and death and sits in power at the right hand of God. My motivation is to get to Him. What’s yours?
Philippians 2:1-18
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
