“And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
1 Corinthians 12:31-1 Corinthians 13:3 (NKJV)
The above scripture lists wonderful attributes of someone who could be a literal Einstein of their time and yet also operates powerfully in the gifts of the spirit and faith. It describes someone who could be so bold that they could give everything they own to the poor and even sacrifice their own life. In fact, if we heard of a billionaire philanthropist that gave everything they owned to the poor, it would make headlines all over the world. Most would feel that this was a person of great importance and deserving of the highest awards and accolades, maybe even the Nobel Peace prize. Yet, the Lord informs us that if this person’s motivation was not love, then what they did amounts to nothing. It is of no benefit to them at all.
Our motivation for what we do is key. The Lord wants love to be the motivation for all our actions. Whether we want to be successful on our job or drive a nice car or volunteer at church. In everything that we do, our number one motivation must be love. Maybe we want a better job so we can provide for our family or be able to give to others when the need arises. Our motivation for driving a nice car could be so that we are good ambassadors for the Lord and draw others to Him through our influence. It could also be because we know our heavenly Father loves us and wants the best for us, so we receive His good gifts with gratitude and love for Him. Whatever we do, love must be the foundation.
However, in order to understand the kind of love that the Lord is referencing, we must allow the Lord to define love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 -8a does just that. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, things no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (NKJV)
There are those who want to be wealthy and drive luxurious cars or wear top brand clothes to show off to others and feel important. This would not fit the definition of love since we are told that love does not parade itself, is not puffed up and does not seek its own. Therefore, a person that ran after wealth for this reason would be doing it in vain. However, if their motivation to gain wealth and have an excellent appearance was to bring glory to God and draw others to Him, then that motivation would fit the definition of love. If their motivation was to make an impact on the earth and to help others, then that too would fit the definition. Therefore, whatever we do, it is always important to check our motivation. Whether we have decided to help at our children’s school, or even volunteer at church, the motivation should always be from a standpoint of loving and helping those around us.
In addition, we may be motivated by our love for God. We know that it blesses God when we are kind to others, and keep ourselves Holy and pure, therefore out of our love for God we do these things. If we simply volunteer at church or remain Holy to get God’s approval, then that is a selfish motivation. Instead, when we follow the Lord’s commands out of love for Him, we then benefit ourselves exponentially. Our motivation is what matters the most.
When our motivation is love, then when adversity comes or even persecution, we will not get offended or quit because love is sustaining us. If we volunteer at school to look good to the other staff and parents, then when we encounter difficult and unappreciative parents, we could become offended and quit. However, if our motivation for volunteering is love for the children and/or love for God, then there is no persecution or hardship we could not endure because love never fails. We will be able to weather any storm.
If you marry someone because you truly love them, then you will be more concerned about meeting their needs than you are about them meeting yours. You will be able to weather any storm because your motivation is love. Therefore, you want the best for them, so you are willing to sacrifice some of your own needs or comforts in order to better their lives. However, if both people get married because they want the other person to make them happy, then they are motivated by selfishness. That marriage will be in trouble very quickly. The moment their needs aren’t met, they will become offended and disgruntled, because they married for what they could get, rather than what they could give. Love must always be the foundation.
The same is true for our calling. Maybe God has called you to be a businessman, or an actor or a football player. Whatever the calling, if you step out in faith out of love for God and His will for your life, then no matter what happens, you will endure. You will not give up or quit when the circumstances become overwhelmingly difficult. It is love that drives and sustains you.
In this New Year, let us take time to reflect on our motivation. Let us be diligent to cut out anything in our lives that is not motivated by love or simply make the love adjustment and continue with the right motivation. Choose the way of love, for it is the most excellent way! It is God’s way.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 13, Mark 12:28-31, 1 John 4, Mark 1:40-42, John 10
