July 8, 2014

• Why Do You Do It?

  
  How many of us do the right things for all the wrong reasons? What are some of the wrong reasons?
  1. Doing things so people will like us.
  2. Doing things to impress others.
  3. Doing things because we are afraid to say no.
  4. Doing things because we like to be in control.
  5. Doing things out of guilt.
  6. Doing things because we are too proud to delegate or ask for help.

  God is looking at our hearts. God is interested in what motivates us. He sees the pride. He sees the fear and guilt. He wants so much more for us than the small life that comes from letting the wrong things rule your actions.

  What are some good motivations to do what we do?
  1. We enjoy it.
  2. We love God and know He has asked us to, and we desire to please Him.
  3. We want to be responsible and set a good example.
  4. We see a need and feel called to help.
  5. We know it is right.
  6. We know it will bring us joy.
  7. We feel compassion.

  The other day I was thinking about how many things people do with fear being the motivation. For example... taking vitamins. Do you take them because it seems like a good idea, or because you are afraid of getting sick? Even things like cleaning the house or washing the car can be motivated by worry of what others might say if we don't. My mom used to clean the house before the cleaning lady came to clean the house! Kind of silly, isn't it?

  We worry a lot about what people will think. We really should be most concerned with what GOD will think, but too often, He is pretty far down the list. We try to impress certain people with what we wear, what we drive, etc. How hard to we try to impress GOD?

  I believe if we want to enjoy this life God has so graciously given us, we need to do things for the right reasons.

  (Eccles. 12:1 NLT) Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor Him in your youth before you grow old and say, "Life is not pleasant anymore."

  The problem with doing the right thing for the wrong reasons is that after a while, you start to be resentful. You feel used and unappreciated. You feel stressed, angry and trapped. There is no joy in that.

  I have found that if I have the proper motivation, I am able to do really difficult things with a good attitude and outcome. If I know it is the right thing for me, the commitment is there, and God gives me wisdom, grace and strength. If I feel pushed or "guilted into" what I am doing, I do not give it my all. I do not try to do my best, and I don't have the support of the Lord, because He never ask me to be there in the first place!

  So, my friend. What are you doing, and why are you doing it? Have you lost your joy? Are you are feeling burdened and stressed? Resentful? Maybe you are doing things God never ask you to do. Maybe it is time to examine your heart and ask yourself some hard questions.

  • 6:56 am
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