So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31
Is it just me, or does everyone struggle with their motives when attempting to serve Christ? Do we do what we do because of the great debt and love we feel for our sin paid for by Christ on the cross, or some selfish benefit? Is our compulsive micromanagement and perfectionism to do our best for Christ because He is so deserving, or do we do it because we don’t want others to think we are inferior.
These and other thoughts have been the crux of my growth lately… the refinement of my motives to purity and only for the glory of Christ. Even in the mundane “eating and drinking” that He and He alone would receive Glory.
Recently in my study of this I came across a passage where Paul exposes proper and improper motives for Christ service;
Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. I Corinthians 9:16,17
Here he (Paul) lists for us his motives…
1. He is Compelled (KJV “necessity is laid upon me)
This is the overwhelming and driving force of need. The need of mankind is so great for liberating spiritual truth through Christ ..that it literally drives him in his tasks. As with Paul so with us. In our age of instant messaging and technology there still remains the numbing need to communicate past the trivial to that which really matters..that being our redemption in Christ.
2. Woe is Me…
Paul is motivated by a respectful fear of God that if he does not use his communication gifts and unique opportunities to share the light of the gospel that he will reap the impending circumstances..not only personally at the hand of God but through the natural darkness of a culture not devoted to Christ. Can we relate? As our culture slowly turns out the moral lights on our world can we not see the dangers lurking. We too..not out of cultural fear..but fear of God need to be about the Father’s business to enlighten those of God and avoid cultural darkness.
3. Voluntary Service renders Reward..
Notice that the service must be in the spirit of volunteerism..that we would do this regardless of earthly compensation but because we desire to see change and growth for God. If we are compensated, let it be simply to free us to serve, not to free us from work.
4. Involuntary Service is that of duty.
Certainly not the highest motive but the work gets done and that brings satisfaction. Scheduling and processing work through grids and systems is not necessarily sinful but certainly doesn’t render the purpose and joy that otherwise service can bring.
5. Love..
The highest and most commendable motive is God’s Agape, unselfish, personal sacrificing Love. None is higher as we see illustrated in Christs’ love for us. As He died for us, we die to him and others for the resurrection of life and purpose.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. II Corinthians 5:14
When George Frederick Handel finished his timeless composition of “the Messiah” he signed it simply.. “To the Glory of God”. I certain he was moved by the fact that such a work had the hand of God upon it, as certainly anyone who has heard and sung this great work can attest to.
May our lives be signed thusly, not by the hand of a man, but the very hand of God.
