MOTIVATED BY LOVE
You have often heard me say, “Our emphasis should not be on what we do as much as it should be on why we do what we do, and how we do what we do.” As we place emphasis on the “Why” and “How” of our doing, we acknowledge the need for our being conscious and intentional regarding our actions and attitudes.
The Bible makes it very clear that the motivation behind why we do what we do, and how we do what we do should be love. As love is the motivation, everything that I say and do will be done in a way that glorifies and honors God. After all, I desire that everything that I say and do will be done in a way that glorifies and honors God.
For example, when I tell someone the truth, I tell them in love. When I reprimand someone, I reprimand them in love. When I confront someone regarding their actions, I confront them in love. Even when I have to give someone a piece of my mind, I give them a piece of my mind in love.
Following are passages from the Bible to encourage you towards establishing love as a motivation for everything that I say and everything that I do:
John 13:34, 35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Romans 13:8
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
1 John 3:16, 17
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
1 John 4:11
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Why is this important? One day, God is going to judge what we did based upon why we did it and how we did it. Paul shared in I Corinthians 3:11-15 (NIV) 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Therefore, please ask yourself, “What is the quality of my love?? Is the quality of my love like Gold, Silver, and Costly Stones and will endure the testing by fire? Is the quality of my love like Wood, Hay, and Straw and will be burned up when tested by fire?
