What Motivates You?
A guest post by Chad Ramsey.
Individuals are motivated by different things. Some are motivated by a desire to succeed. Others are driven by a desire for wealth. Still others seek popularity and praise. But should these things motivate the Christian?
The Christian’s Motivation.
The apostle Paul’s first letter to Timothy shows they should not. He wrote:
“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).
Paul’s statement is found in a context where he admonishes Timothy to “charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3). Thus, it reveals why one should be concerned about the actions of others. Timothy was to be concerned with what others taught because of his love for them.
By admonishing individuals to teach the truth, Timothy was not trying to bolster his reputation. He was simply doing what love demands—seeking what is best for others.
The Sources of the Christian’s Motivation.
The love motivating Timothy was to spring from three sources: a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
Those same components should be present in the love we have for others today.
If our heart is pure, we will not be self-seeking.
If our conscience is clean, we will do only those things we perceive to be right.
If our faith is sincere, our actions will not be hypocritical.
What motivates you?
Are you motivated by selfishness? Are you willing to compromise what you know to be true to succeed? Do you say one thing and do another? Or are you truly motivated by love?
As Paul instructed Timothy, love should be the force moving us to action. No wonder Paul wrote: “Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).
Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.
Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.
