It is essential to understand what your core motivation of life is! That is key to finding joy and success. That core motivation drives everything else you do in life whether you recognize it or not. Many would say, “Easy, I am motivated to succeed!” Because often, we think that is it; we forget to ask then, “What is success?” Is success dependent on money, prestige, or fame? If so, how much money, prestige or fame is needed to be a success? Is success being “well liked” by others or looked up to? What about in the Christian world! What does a successful Christian’s life look like?
HOW DO IDEOLOGIES CHANGE MOTIVATION?
Paul the Apostle in addressing the church of Colossae wrote them to beware of false ideologies which were creeping into their church. Both ideologies go back to the core motivation of worship and how that should look like. One such ideology was that salvation was by grace plus works. The second ideology included the worship of angels. Both ideologies change the core motivation of serving God from that of love to that of pride.
Outwardly the service may initially appear the same; but, in the depths of the heart this changes. Because the core motivation for serving God changes, the ideas regarding success also changes. Hence, pride replaces love, self-exaltation replaces humility, guilt replaces hope, and anger replaces joy. This can lead to an ever-spiraling downward sense of being a failure or an up/down rollercoaster ride of life in which you are constantly striving for and never reaching a sense of peace with God.
COLOSSIANS 2(TLB)
13 You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, 14 and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. 15 In this way God took away Satan’s power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ’s triumph at the cross where your sins were all taken away.
20 Since you died, as it were, with Christ and this has set you free from following the world’s ideas of how to be saved—by doing good and obeying various rules[a]—why do you keep right on following them anyway, still bound by such rules as 21 not eating, tasting, or even touching certain foods? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings, for food was made to be eaten and used up. 23 These rules may seem good, for rules of this kind require strong devotion and are humiliating and hard on the body, but they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires. They only make him proud.
DOES THAT MEAN DON’T TRY TO BE BETTER?
Certainly, I am not saying we should not strive to be better. We need to fight against sin in our own lives; but, our victory over sin’s presence in our life depends on our core motivation not to sin. If pride is my motivation, I am going to fail. This goes to the heart of the matter.
On the other hand, if my motivation to serve God comes out of love; then, He can use my stuttering lips, my stumbling feet and my frail hands to do mighty things for Him. So, it is, our core motivation for doing good must come from humbly recognizing the magnitude of Grace we are given. Because of recognizing Grace, our hearts become filled with gratitude for everything we have. That gratitude fills us with joyful worship of God for all that He has done. Furthermore, we then desire to know Him more which drives us to prayer and studying of His word.
THEN WHAT ABOUT MY SHAME AND GUILT?
When we wallow in our shame and guilt, we are performing an outrageous act of pride by saying my sin was greater than God’s Grace. I have taken my eyes off the cross when I do that. Yes, with a broken and contrite heart we are to confess our sins before God; knowing that He has forgiven them. Then, we are to get up, trusting Him to do what He has promised. We like David are to pray-
PSALM 19
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
As you may have noted, our core motivation usually is that of genuine love or pride. Which are you motivated by today? Is it a heart of humility that is filled with Thanksgiving that overflows with hope and joy? Or are you motivated by pride?
FINAL TWEETS
[tweetthis]Your Core Motivation for Life Determines Your Destiny[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”Are you motivated by a Gracious Heart of Love or by Self Aggrandizing Pride?” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Hope & Joy come from a Thankful Humble Heart that sees the Glory of Grace[/tweetthis]
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Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.