One of the things that derails many people in ministry is the issue of motivation. If you are going to make it for the long haul you need to have a Kingdom building mindset. You have to realize that I am here to build the Kingdom of God I am not hear to build my kingdom or to become personally famous.
I recognize this can trap anyone. I constantly have to remember where my worth comes from. Jesus isn’t impressed with how many twitter followers I have. (Although I do wonder WWJT what would Jesus Tweet, I am positive that He would have a twitter account but what would his status updates look like, sorry but I think crazy stuff like this all the time.) The reality is that in todays day of blogs, facebook and twitter knowing if someone is building their own kingdom or God’s kingdom isn’t always easy to discern. Issues of motivation are very difficult but the results of the decisions we make always shine an external light on our inward motivations. It generally doesn’t take people to long to see whose kingdom you are building.
Few things sadden me than when I see people in the ministry for personal gain. Not just because those people drive me crazy personally but because there is a group of people who have a hireling and not a shepherd. I believe in the local church. It hurts my heart to think that people would use the name of Christ and His church as a platform to gain influence, fame, personal wealth. I understand that I am a sinful person who can be trapped by fame and flattery as much as the next person. But if you and I want to last for the long haul we need to ask ourselves do I have the same attitude as Christ Jesus? What helps me make it for the long haul reading Philippians 2 and asking God to do this in me.
Philippians 2:1-11
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
1 comments On Lessons for the long haul: Motivation
Awesome post, Sam!!! Agreed!