MOTIVATION
Let’s see, would you rather somebody was thrilled to hear you speak or that they dreaded the thought of hearing your voice?
That’s what Paul was up against when he was telling people about Christ.
But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NLT)
So what kept Paul going? What can keep us headed down the right path?
The answer is, “the right motivation.” Doing what we do for the right reason is the only thing that will allow us to be successful as we go about doing the Lord’s work until He comes again.
Notice how Paul puts it in verse 17 of the same chapter,
You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
There are people in our day who “preach” for personal profit rather than what Paul gives as the right reason, “knowing that God is watching us.” They simply show up on Sunday to collect a paycheck. Also, notice that Paul points out that with the right motivation, we have the authority given by Christ and, may I add, the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you want to be successful? Examine why you do what you do. Look at what your motivation is. If you are motivated by pleasing God and being obedient to Him that is great! If not, you had better fix it!!!
SEEK FIRST THE
