With all the hectic scenarios and craziness of life, we have to discipline ourselves to slow things down and take a deep dive. Sometimes we need to stop and ask “What is my motive for doing this?”
Is your motivation love? Is your motivation to take care of someone else? Is your motivation to show how great you are? Is your motivation to win at any cost? Is your motivation to be happy at any cost, regardless of the pain inflicted on others? Or, …. Is your motivation to give glory and honor to God?
There are four categories of motivations.
- Doing the right things for the right reasons.
- Doing the right things for the wrong reasons.
- Doing the wrong things for the right reasons.
- Doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons.
Sometimes we do not even realize our motivation until the spirit of the Lord shows us. He reveals it by His Spirit, through His Word and life’s circumstances.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Heb 4:12
The word of God is like a mirror. With that being said, when we look in a mirror, sometimes we like what we see and other times, not so much. If we really have a heart towards God, we will not be afraid to look into the mirror of His Word. If we embrace the Spirit of Truth, we will not sugarcoat what we see concerning ourselves. We will see the areas where we need to grow and the other areas that need to be worked on.
Apostle Paul talks about this issue even in ministry:
“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.” – Php 1:15 -17
Apostle Paul talks about the different motivations and intents of people as they preach and minister the gospel. With the plethora of voices out there and the ubiquity of the internet, we can be assured that there is a cornucopia of motivations for their ministry. Some are good and others are not.
“What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” – Php 1:18
Apostle Paul encourages to have the right heart, the right attitude and do the right thing. The right attitude is to be happy because the gospel is being preached. The right attitude is to be happy because the Name of Jesus is being elevated. Regardless of the true or false reasons of those that minister, we have to learn to trust God and that He will build His Kingdom for His Glory. We are co-laborer’s in Christ. We are to be those that help Him build His Kingdom with the right motivations.
If our heart attitudes and our motives are wrong, we can be assured that God is going to continue working on us. The Holy Spirit will teach and train us on how to have the right attitudes and motivations. He does not give up on us but rather He continues to work with us. Sometimes the situations of life are not all happenstance. Sometimes they are specifically orchestrated by the Holy Ghost with exacting objectives and object lessons we learned. They are orchestrated to help us to learn how to have the right attitudes.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” – Php 1:6
If we have gotten ahead of ourselves, the Holy Spirit knows how to slow us down. If we have fallen behind, the Holy Spirit knows how to speed us up. If we have gotten off to the left or to the right, the Holy Spirit knows how to make a course correction in our life. If we are weak, the Holy Spirit knows how to strengthen us. If we have gotten too big for our britches, the Holy Spirit knows to put our ego on a crash diet.
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” – 1 Pe 5:5-6
How easy is it for us to think about all the things that we have to accomplish? How easy is it to think about all of the goals that need to be accomplished by certain deadlines? But do we find it difficult to examine our true motives for things?
Whether it is in our personal lives or in ministry, God is concerned about our heart attitudes. God is concerned about the integrity of our motives.
God truly loves us and He will always do the right thing by us. He always does the right things for the right reasons. And seeing as we are made in his image and in his likeness we too must learn to do the right things for the right reasons.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” – Php 2:3
God is Love. Love will always do the right thing for the right reasons. Love will take more time to accomplish something if it is the right thing to do. Love will take the time to work with people even when it is not expedient. Love will accelerate time if that is what is needed. Love will accomplish things in its own timing and not according to some carnal agenda. Love has its own speed.
Learn to move at the speed of Love.
-May God’s Grace Abundantly Reign In Your Life!
-Apostle Ric & Prophetess Kathy Steele
Ric Steele Ministries 