Shift

Part 5: Shift My Motivations

by Louie Marsh, 7-3-2022

 

Two Motivation pics – then Old Dr. Boyce Quote, Don’t do the right thing for the wrong reason.

 

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?  - SHOW PIC ON CUE!

Who is this Guy?  BTK killer – Dennis Rader.  Between 1974 and 1991, he killed ten people in Wichita and Park City, Kansas, and sent taunting letters to police and newspapers describing the details of his crime

He was also an active member and leader in his church and community!

 

3 Things to Remember

 

1) I can’t deal with my motives without GOD’S HELP.

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalms 139:23-24 (ESV)

 

2) All of my motives will never be 100% PURE.

 

“12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:12, ESV)

 

3) Other people’s motives are THEIR PROBLEM not mine!

 

“15Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,” (Philippians 1:15–18, ESV)

 

SHOW PIC ON CUE!

 

KEWASKUM, Wis. -- It's not usually news when a police officer writes a ticket -- unless it's the chief and he gives the ticket to himself.

Village of Kewaskum Police Chief Richard Knoebel said he was driving to work when he became distracted by a truck stopping on one side of the street.

He said he didn't see a school bus with its lights flashing and a stop sign out on the other side of the four-lane road.

The chief said he didn't know he had passed the stopped bus until it was too late.

When he realized what he had done, he issued himself a $235 ticket.

"When we get someone for not stopping for a flashing school bus we give them a citation. So I shouldn't be any different so I did," Knoebel said.

Not only did the chief have to pay a hefty fine, he gave himself a four-point penalty on his license

 

4 Motivations to be Wary of

 

1) PEOPLE PLEASING

 

“12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.” (Galatians 2:12, ESV)

 

2) SELF-SEEKING

 

“1“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1, ESV)

 

“1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:1–3, ESV)

 

Example – show pic on cue and read his description A picture of my wife and me around the time of my story. Yes, I was wearing those giant glasses and that stylish moustache. And, yes, I was wearing shorts that short. I'm glad some things change, though I'd be happy to have all that brown hair again.

 

For example, several years ago my wife and I were going through a difficult time in our marriage. Linda was pretty unhappy with our relationship. I, on the contrary, was fairly satisfied with how things were going, except for her unhappiness. If she would just cheer up, I thought, we'd be doing fine. Linda, however, wanted outside help. She asked if we might go to a Christian marriage counselor together. I rejected her request, arguing my case with an impressive array of facts and theories: not really needed; not enough time; can't afford it; can't find a good counselor, etc. (Of course I wasn't willing to admit that my real hesitations were pride and fear.)

 

I won the argument, not by convincing Linda of the folly of seeking counseling, but by virtue of the fact that if I wouldn't go with her, we weren't going at all. But then I made the "mistake" of sharing my victory over Linda with my small group of Christian men. After I finished my proud tale they asked simply, "Why don't you just go to counseling with her?" Again I paraded my arguments, which they shot down with ease. I knew I was dead when my best defense, "I'm not sure we can afford it," was shattered with their offer, "Oh, we'll pay for you to go if that's the problem." The jig was up. My goose was cooked.

 

Looking back on that experience, I now know where it led. Linda and I did see a wonderful Christian counselor. Not only did he help us develop a much healthier and happier marriage, but also he was used by the Holy Spirit to bring healing to deep wounds within my soul, wounds that hindered far more than my capacity for intimacy in marriage. I continue to overflow with thanks to God for those three brothers in Christ who helped me to discern God's will when I was so blind and hard-hearted.

 

3) LEGALISM/GUILT

 

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— Galatians 3:1-5 (ESV)

 

4) CONTROL

 

“9I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.” (3 John 9–10, ESV)

 

My Major Motivation: LOVE

 

• Love of GOD

 

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

 

• Love of OTHERS

 

“17But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17–18, ESV)

 

How to Discern My Real Motivations

 

1) PRAY – only God can show me my heart.

 

All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)

 

“2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:2–5, ESV)

 

2) LISTEN to people I trust & who know me well.

 

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Acts 18:26 (ESV)

 

3) STAY OPEN to God.

 

“3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:3–4, ESV)