Do Things for the Right Reasons

Do things for the right reasons

1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Your greatest impact will come not because you are gifted beyond measure, but rather by doing things for the right reasons.

Jesus, throughout his ministry here on earth, would regularly tell those he healed not to tell anyone that it was done by Him. The reason he did that was because at no point did he want his ministry to be about the glamour and the glory; he wanted to keep the focus on His love for people. There were similar examples throughout the scriptures. Elisha was offered much possession by  Naaman in 2 Kings 5 when he was healed, but he refused to take it.  Similarly, Daniel was offered new clothes, a gold chain and rulership in the kingdom of Belshazzar, in Daniel 5. if he was able to read the writing on the wall, but he expressed no interest in what the King was offering. In essence Daniel was saying, I am not doing this for money and position.

Do things for the right reasons, let a genuine care and concern for people drive your actions towards those you serve. It was with this in mind, after he taught on the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul continued in Chapter 13 to suggest that even the greatest manifestation of these gifts are meaningless if it is not done out of love. Your primary motive for doing what you do should be a love for people, that supersedes all.  

It is easy to allow the other things – position, possession and fame to be the driving force behind what you do, but when you start doing things with the wrong reasons is when you start to lose. Choose to serve with the right motive.

Life Application: Maintain the right motive by serving others out of love.

Prayer: Lord, check my motives and let me commit to doing things from a pure heart. Search me and know my thoughts. In Jesus name, amen.