Motivated by Love

God has blessed us by His grace. He has blessed us in many ways and has given us gifts for ministry. When we realise that God wants to use our talents and abilities to help others, there is sometimes the temptation to feel self-important.

Sometime this past week when we read Mathew Chapter 21, Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we were astonished that people of Jerusalem were asking who Jesus was (Mat. 21:10b) despite all the miracles he had done. This is contrary to what is obtainable these days. With little anointing or been used to do one miracle or more, ‘men of God’ would start asking for 7-jeep motorcade before they would come for a program or  how much they will collect as honorarium. 

“First pride, then the crash-- the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.”

Proverbs 16:18 (MSG)

That is not God’s plan. Instead of thinking of ourselves too highly or thinking we are too good for a humble place, we need to look at ourselves sensibly and seriously recognising that God has given us a measure of faith as He has to every Christian. Our part is to find and accept the place in the Body that God has for us.

Because God has given one the gift of working wonders or faith that can move mountains, should not make one think their gift is more important than one given the gift to help. The eye should not tell the ear he is more important or the hands the mouth. It is only together can we function properly – the individual units making up the whole.

let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over;… Keep a smile on your face.

Romans 12:6-8, (MSG)

Even if we prophecy, have mountain-moving faith, speak in toughs of angels, give all we owe to the poor or even give ourselves to be burnt, if we are not doing them with the right motives – love. Love is patient with both people and circumstances. It does not attempt to get even when wronged by others (1 Corinthians 13:4 – 7). Love is to be what both what motivates and define what we do and say.

How are you using the abilities God has given you? Are you saving God because you love Him and want to? Or are you serving out of a sense of duty? What motivates your Christian service?

However, always remember love should be the major motivation for our services in the house of God else, the spiritual gifts are useless.