What’s the Motive?

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13–14)

Why do people do what they do?  People get involved in community service out of love for others and some for personal reasons.  Others never get involved al all.  The need is present regardless, but to have an opportunity to glorify God and not use it, selfishness comes to mind.  Nothing gives me greater joy than doing good for the glory of Him who makes it possible, to have an opportunity to show His character and tell others about Him.  In 1 Peter 4:10–11 we read, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  The feeling I get when I talk about my God and do the good works for which He planned for me in advance makes me want to shout!  Tony the Tiger would just say Grrrreat!

Jesus laid such an awesome foundation through His teachings and example.  He wanted us to get it.  He came to be a servant, not to be served.  He cared about everyone, from the least to the greatest.  He told His disciples in Mark 10:42–45, “…, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  You get that, no matter how high and mighty we get, we should seek to serve others and not consider ourselves bigshots.  The bible tells is in Philippians 2:3–8, “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.”  Our Lord gave up everything, even Godship, to serve and die for us, including the lowest of low and wretched people of the world, offering Heaven instead.  Counting others more significant than ourselves is a tough one, but with the heart of God, we can do it.

God has gifted us with so much that we overlook something He gives us for others, our gifts.  Everybody has one, and some have more.  If you don’t know what yours is ask yourself, what do I love doing?  If still unsure, ask God to reveal it to you.  Our gifts should be used to build up and edify others.  Romans 12:6–13 states, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”  Looking for ways to be hospitable; outdoing each other in showing God’s love to others, helping in every way we can is serving the Lord.  And we can do it so much better.

In fact, Matthew 5:14–16 states, ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  We should have an eagerness to do good, and search for opportunities.  Our light should be so bright that even a blind person, though they can’t see, they can feel it.  All for the glory of God.  In Isaiah 34:7 God says that He created all who claims Him as their God for His glory.  He further states in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.”  He has told us; He won’t give up His glory nor share His praise with idols.  Anything we give more attention or effort to than doing the work He prepared us in advance to do (Ephesians 2:10), is probably idolization.  And for those doing nothing, we should not be hiding our gifts or light under baskets or behind walls.  We should be using them to glorify the King and Him only.  So, decide.   Doing works or doing nothing, what is the motive?