What
Motivates Us?
Is it possible to be ‘dead’ to applause and criticism?
Fame, Prestige, glory and adulation are difficult to handle—especially
when they come suddenly. As a young man, I was not capable of handling
unexpected fame and glory I received in my work and ministry. But God knew this
and He met me in my place of need.
I was returning from a graduation function at Fuller Seminary School of
Mission in 1986 after having received an award from the school as “Alumnus of
the year”.
I stopped over in Singapore where I got the opportunity to hear a man of
God share from His Word. What struck me hardest was what he said about Mary,
the one who wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. Mary did not use her hair, the
speaker said, for lack of a towel. Rather, she wanted to serve Jesus with her
most glorious asset. Surely, the hair of a woman is something glorious for her,
and Mary used it in serving Jesus at His feet. I realized then, that all honors
and awards are to be laid at the feet of Jesus. Otherwise they have no meaning.
The opportunities I was given to serve in the United Nations and in the scientific
realm were actually God-given privileges to glorify Him. I was selected to do
certain things, neither because I am great nor small and insignificant.
These days there is a lot of glamour associated with preachers and Christian
organizations. The motivating factor for what we do in ministry, must be
spiritual. In most cases, we suffer disappointment when the motivation comes
from another source. Temporary applause and ego satisfaction soon vanish. But when
we stand behind people and help them minister, we often find that they do a
much better job than us. We need to recognize the importance of taking the back
row and encouraging others to go forward. What should motivate us in all this
is the constraining love of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:14).
No comments:
Post a Comment