Sustainable Motivation

When my wife, Cindy, and I were living in Florida we had the pleasure of being pastored by Tullian Tchividjian, the grandson of Billy Graham. Tullian has been blessed with wisdom and a true gift for teaching the redemptive grace of the Gospel. We currently reside back in our home state of Colorado where we attend Mission Hills Church, pastored by Mike Romberger. Mike is also a gifted and blessed pastor and we love his teaching. Recently, Mike expressed from the pulpit the tremendous need our church has for youth Sunday School teachers. He pounded the message home pretty well, and indeed there is a great need. After the service, Cindy told me that she felt she needed to respond to that plea and volunteer to teach. She felt guilty, and she felt that it was something she needed to do.

As we were driving home, I reminded Cindy of something Tullian had told us in one of his sermons: "If obedience flows from fear and guilt, it is not sustainable. Obedience should be soaked in the gospel. We obey, and we do things, because of what Christ has done for us, not because of what we think we need to do for Him". It was a reminder that if she wanted to teach Sunday School for the right reasons, great--do it. But if she was doing it out of guilt, then don't, because it will affect her attitude and her sustainability.

I believe that's why church giving fluctuates so much. People will give out of guilt, maybe even fear, or because they believe they have to do something for God, or to be seen as favorable in the sight of God and man. That type of motivation is not sustainable. Sustainable motivation (and obedience)--whether it is for service, for giving, or for doing our daily tasks with all our heart--comes from what Christ has already done for us.

2 Corinthians 8:7-9 (ESV): But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine (emphasis mine). For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

"Paul didn't use the law to motivate obedience. He always used the Gospel--faith in what Jesus has already done, obedience motivated by love and gratitude" (Tullian Tchividjian). It's a great lesson for us in our Christian sports programs and ministry. Motivate through the Gospel. Constantly and consistently teach the Gospel. I obey, and I am motivated by what Christ has done for me, not by what I can do for Him.