There are different ways to get going. We need some way of getting going in order to
overcome initial inertia.
Motivation.
I have the image of a donkey pulling a cart with the driver
holding a long pole and on it he has tied a carrot. The carrot is just out of the donkey’s reach
so the donkey moves forward in an effort to get the carrot. And just in case the donkey doesn’t keep
going the driver has a stick for motivating from the other end. The carrot and stick method seems to be one
Christians gravitate toward. Of course,
heaven with its rewards and hell with its punishments are something of a
motivator. But beyond that in week to
week church life there are some who seem stuck spiritually. Haven’t you seen them? They can’t get out of the starting gate on
their own. They are looking for kudos
from fellow believers to keep them motivated.
Some struggle until a strong rebuke gets their attention and then they
are good for a week or two. What is
that?
A baby in order to grow and mature has to differentiate
itself from its mother and begin eventually to develop self-propulsion,
self-feeding, self-care which eventually becomes the basis for sharing, caring
and giving to others. Imagine an adult
sized person who had no motivation to move or work for food or care for
bathroom issues. You can see how cool it
would be to get big boy to go to the bathroom by rewarding him with
Skittles. Well, apply that picture to
our Christian lives. Got it?
The Lord has a better way and warns against
our being difficult to motivate. In
Psalm 32:9 we see: “Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit
and bridle to keep it under control.”
What are some proper Christian propellants? Here are some to consider. I like this one because it is real and that
is what is required before God getting real.
There was a Pharisee (real detail oriented Type A personality ladder
climbing religious type) who was in the Temple praying to God. He noticed a tax collector (low life scum
working for the Roman government for money) and the Pharisee says to God: “Thank You that I am not like that guy!” “Thank
You that I am quite a man. I have my
books in order, my life well scheduled, my religious calendar in line.” “I am looking pretty good.” The tax collector turns to God and says: ‘O
God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ Luke 18:13 Jesus says the tax collector and not the
Pharisee had it right and the tax collector left there right with God.
Getting right before God by dealing with the reality of our
lives and humbly coming to Him is a great propellant. Barriers to motivation come down. Energy comes up. Fear of facing God is gone. Desire to get near to God comes.
Here is another I like.
Start feeding yourself the best stuff available…God’s Word. The Apostle Peter said it this way: 2Like
newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a
full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3now
that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 1 Peter 2:2, 3 NLT
Find that other things in life are more interesting or make
their way to the top of your to-do list way before the Bible? Hmmm?
Why is that? Peter says like
newborn babies…crave…cry out for this nourishment. You know what that looks like, right? Every couple of hours…feed me, feed me,
waaa! What if they don’t get fed…good or
bad? So, what happens to God’s people,
you, if other things get in the way of good spiritual eats? Exactly.
This is a good one. A
deep relationship with and longing for God. The Psalmist says it this way: “Whom
have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.”
Psalm 73:25 NLT Carrot and stick Christians
don’t get this. But, wow, if they only
would.
Here is another. Getting close to God so you can get His
instructions for living. It takes some
practice spending time with God, studying His Word, learning to discern, but it
is motivating to hear from God. This is
how Isaiah says it: Your own
ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way
you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 NLT
This one goes along with God’s speaking. In Romans 8:14 it says, For all who are led
by the Spirit of God are children of God. In an amazing dynamic the Holy Spirit
of God comes alongside and leads God’s people.
That is comforting because that is one way to know you are His. It also goes with His personal involvement
and communication to us. The leading of
the Holy Spirit is a proper Christian propellant.
Take a look at this one. An unquenchable desire for God’s way to be
expressed and experienced. It is so hard
to separate our way or the world’s way from God’s way. We often redefine God’s way to be what I
think is right, but that isn’t it. It is
for us to get on board with Him.
Observing the brokenness of people, relationships, systems, governments
and businesses ought to drive us to our knees before our God and cause us to
get up and try to live out His way more effectively. Jesus included this in His sermon on the mount: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, because they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
I like the picture of hunger and nourishment used in some of
these verses because they indicate the need to take these things inside
myself. Down deep inside is where God
works and creates in me a new heart, a new motivation. No longer do I need to get a slap on the back
or a gold star (not that they are evil or that we shouldn’t give them, but they
are not the main propellants). I walk
with God because I want to walk with God.
I want to know Him better. I want
to know what He is thinking. I want to
work where He is working. I want to be
part of what He is doing. Not because
someone holds out a carrot or pushes me on with a stick. No. I
want to go with Him. Who else?
66At
this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67Then
Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are
you also going to leave?”
68Simon
Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal
life. John 6:66-68 NLT
Way to go, Peter. Proper Christian propellant indeed.
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