Motivated to Faithfulness

According to the dictionary, motivation is “the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.” Properly motivated, one will seek to accomplish even the most unpleasant or impossible task. Void of motivation, the even the simplest task will go unattended.

The following story describes how, with the right motivation, that which must be done will be done, no matter the obstacles in the way.

A TRUE EVENT happened in the football season in the Southeast Conference between the great rivalry of Alabama and Auburn back in the days when Bear Bryant was still living and Pat Dye was the coach for the Auburn team.
 The first-string quarterback for the Alabama team had been injured, so they were left with the second-string quarterback. They were on the opposing team’s twenty-yard line. They were ahead by five points, leading Auburn. There were two minutes left in the game and it was first down for Alabama. Bear Bryant yelled into the ear hole in the helmet of the second-string quarterback, “Whatever you do, do not pass! Run the ball all four plays. And then if we have to hold them, our defense will get us through and we will win.”
 The second-string quarterback ran in full of zeal and determination. First down, they were smeared. Second down, Auburn held them. Third down, they gained a yard. Fourth down came. The hand-off was somehow muffled and the quarterback wound up with the ball. Running around the backfield, he looked in the end zone and he saw his split end ready to catch the ball, and he passed it. What he failed to see was the fastest man on the field, the safety for the Auburn team, also saw the pass coming. He came in front of the receiver, intercepted the ball, and started racing down the field. The quarterback, not very fast himself normally, raced down the field, caught the man, tackled him, and Alabama won the game.
 Coach Dye said later to Bear Bryant, “I read the scouting reports, and that second-string quarterback is supposed to be slow. How is it he caught up with the fastest man on the field?” Bear Bryant replied, “It’s very simple. Your man was running for the goal line and a touchdown. My man was running for his life!”

The highest calling to which any of us has ever been given is that of following Jesus Christ. The very purpose for our existence is found in knowing Him and bringing Him glory. The psalmist would exclaim thousands of years ago, “My whole source of joy is in you” (Psalm 87:7), speaking, of course, of the Lord. Jesus gave a staunch command along with a promise, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [our every need] will be provided to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Since all of our delight is found in Christ, and all of our needs are provided by Him, why would we lack motivation in following His call above all others?! Yet, our sin nature never stops in this life, and so, our affections for Christ alone are diluted by petty desires for a million lesser things. How can we maintain a fervent motivation for the things of God?

In life we learn that there are two types of motivation for any given pursuit. Internal motivation is that drive from within, pushing a person to do for the sake of the thing itself. It comes from one’s own thoughts, feelings, values, and goals. External motivation comes from outside ourselves. It is the undertaking of a task based upon outcome, whether that be the avoidance of the bad or the invitation of the good. So, in the Scriptures we find both motivations given to us by God so that we might persevere in faithfulness to the call of Christ.

Internal Motivation for Faithfulness to God

While faithfulness from us toward God is always initiated and accomplished by His power and grace alone, the Bible makes clear that those in Christ are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Included in this, a believer’s affections are changed by Christ. Something other than his own selfishness (even when masked as goodness) now has control. The great mark of the believer, though still flawed by sin, is that he sincerely desires to follow Christ and obedience to God’s Word comes in increasing measure. There have been many to make a profession of faith. They confess to others that they are followers of Christ. Yet, the fruit of one’s life proves if they have a possession of faith (Matthew 7:20-23). Is there an internal motivation within your life bringing about faithfulness to God?

External Motivation for Faithfulness to God

Many contend that any external motivation for following Christ is less than pure. They would insist any desire for a reward from God is not a right motivation. This has a ring of legitimacy to it, until we read the Scriptures. We are given instruction by the Bible again and again to pursue Christ so that we might receive a reward from Him. None gives greater example of this motivation than the Apostle Paul. Could we find any like him so committed in faithfulness to Christ? Yet, he would describe repeatedly that he was motivated to such by the reward promised to the faithful (2 Timothy 4:6-8). And it is not just the promise of reward that drives the faithful; it is also the avoidance of discipline by God. The faithful must be motivated by an accountability to which we will report to God. Jesus makes clear a principle which runs throughout Scripture: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).

When we pause to consider all that we have been given in Christ, how will we not tremble at knowing the faithfulness which He requires and deserves from us?

Surely there is no greater motivation toward any other affection than our high calling in Christ (Philippians 1:27)! Let us persevere in faithfulness to God, even in these desperate times. Faithfulness to God is both the proof and the product of all who belong to Christ.

Jason