MOTIVATION FROM THE HEART

…for the people worked with all their heart. —Nehemiah 4:6

When I am doing a job I seek to put my heart into it and continue until it is done. Recently I was filling and grading the parking lot at our day care using a mini excavator. The little excavator did the job but took a whole lot longer than a bigger machine would have taken. I put my “heart” into the project and 12 hours later I finally walked into the house to clean up.

Do I put “all my heart” into serving the Lord? Hmmmm…. Or not? Who am I truly serving— the Lord God Almighty or self? Think on what the Apostle Paul is saying in this passage from I Corinthians 4:2-5– “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” Listen, even though the Apostle Paul said he had a clear conscience, that in its self did not make him free from blame in anything. Even the Apostle Paul understood that the Lord would make all things clear when He judges the saints. The Lord alone knows the true intent of the heart! BUT, each will receive their PRAISE from Him! —not condemnation. He already took that!

The context of the verse above is when the wall was being rebuilt as individuals and families were given responsibility and delegated sections of the wall to work on and finish. We are told that “the people worked with all their heart.” This makes me to ponder my own life. This morning I met with a brother, then with a couple neighbors. What was the motivation in my heart for that? I truly hope it was to encourage them somehow. Is that how the Lord sees it? It is my hope that is the case and that it was my intent and motivation. How many things have I done because I love the Lord and people? How many things have I done because of pride and selfishness, the wrong motivation? The Lord knows and will let me know on that day. But, I am grateful I will not be condemned, He took that for me. It is my desire that the way I live and serve Him will be out of proper motivation, but I know, I know that I do not do that perfectly. I look forward to the time in heaven when I will!

Dear Father, please help me through the power of the Holy Spirit to be a faithful servant for the Lord Jesus Christ—serving with the proper motivation. May it be so!

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