What's Your Motivation?

We often take what we understand from our earthly parents and apply it to God.  It’s natural and it seems fitting, but it is unhealthy and can cause tremendous damage to our walk with Jesus.

No matter how well intentioned our parents were they installed three programs to keep their children on the right path.  (And if we are parents now we do it too!)

PROGRAM #1- Fear.  If you don’t pick up your clothes from your bedroom floor this instant you don’t even want to know what will happen! I might yell, I might ground you, I might take your allowances away!  It’s threatening, it has illusions of power, and it works.  If it didn’t work we wouldn’t use it.  Bosses, lawmakers, coaches, and teachers wouldn’t use it either.

PROGRAM #2- Fortune. If you finish your vegetables you can have some ice-cream.  If you do your chores you get some money.  If you don’t cry at the doctor you will get a new toy.  Fortune, prizes, junk food.  Oh yeah that works too right?  In fact it works better than fear sometimes because kids love fortune.  Businesses, banks, insurance brokers, bosses, coaches, and teachers use it as well.

PROGRAM #3- Favor. We know our kids crave our affection and our praise.  So we will withhold it sometimes for when they have earned it.  As kids we will do anything to gain that favor.  And so in some parental cases it’s harder for the child to get than in others.  Do I even have to explain how this works in our careers?  And hey it works.

They all work, but that doesn’t mean they are any good.

So as a child we walk the line out of FEAR, we set our behavior according to the FORTUNE’S available, and we jump through hoops to gain FAVOR.  It’s a constant battle, our relationship with our parents is battle, our relationship with our children in a battle, our relationship with our employers and employees is a battle.

Then we apply all we have learned from this life and expect Jesus to work the exact same way.  And He doesn’t.

What so I have to do for You to not smite me? 

What do I have to do for You to bless me?

What do I have to do for You to love me?

Why do you obey your Heavenly Father?  FEAR, FORTUNE, FAVOR?  Is your Christianity an arrangement or a relationship?

Colossians 3:4  When Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.

Because of Jesus you don’t have anything to FEAR. 

Because of Jesus you don’t have to strive for FORTUNE.

Because of Jesus you don’t have to earn His FAVOR.

We can be wholly motivated by the fact that Jesus is our life!  He defines you. 

You are a new creation, positionally perfect and holy before God, primed for His opportunities coming your way every new day.