Fueled by His Love

Philippians 1:16-17

The latter are motivated by love, because they know that I have been appointed to defend the gospel. The former proclaim the Messiah because they are selfishly ambitious and insincere, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me during my imprisonment.

When Paul penned the book of Philippians he did it while he was chained and in prison in Rome. Instead of having a quieting effect on the church, the people began to proclaim the gospel with a renewed boldness. Some preached because they were looking to fill the void in leadership in the church. Other preached because they wanted to promote the doctrine of the Judiazers which says before you become a Christian you must first become a Jew and be circumcised. Still others preached simply out of love for Christ.

There are two main motivators for serving God. The first is selfish ambition. This is serving God for a benefit of our own. To serve with selfish ambition means that your heart is not completely in it. We may serve God in order to get position or recognition of our faithfulness. This bolsters our pride. We get involved in the visible ministry of the church but the behind the scene stuff that nobody knows about, we tend stay away from. Ministry in turn becomes more about ourselves than it is about humble service to God.

The second motivator for serving the Lord is “Love”. If we go to church, serve in ministry and tithe out of a sense of duty then we are doing it for the wrong reason. Love for God and His people should be what motivate the preaching of the gospel. Without love we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). Sometimes we get so caught up in doing things for God (or for ourselves) that we leave our first love. Are there some things that you neglect to do? Think again of your first love.

The difference between religious ceremony and service is love. Without love I do everything out of a sense of duty. My Christian life becomes about ceremony. It looks good but has no life to it. But when I go to church not because I have to but simply because I love God, then I am liberated. If I pray for people out of love then my prayers are not a burden but instead they are an honor. If you’re not doing the things you do out of love then you better check your heart.

Ask yourself, why am I serving God? Is it out of love or duty? Does love for God push me out of bed on Sunday morning? Do I have enough love to not complain during trials like Paul did? Do I tell others about the Christ that I love? Does the world know that I am a Christian by the love I show to the brethren? Does my love motivate me?