WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVE FOR SERVING?

WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVE FOR SERVING?

 

Remember, you are the influential woman today! I’ll take over the parts you’ve typically been doing on

Days 1–59, so don’t worry about those. Just have fun being influential.

 

What is your real underlying motive for much of the apparently good stuff you do? It’s amazing how often there is a huge disparity between our impure motives and the supposed goodness of our actions. Think about it. Things are not always what they seem. Is there sometimes a gaping chasm between how you really feel versus how you pretend to feel? Bottom line: only God and you know for sure! It is important to purify your motives, before you ask your Lord to reveal your next purpose-in-life.

 

NOW THERE’S AN INTERESTING MOTIVE!

 

When you serve, are you really trying to impress someone with your talent, beauty, or knowledge? Do you serve to mask your pain or boredom, to satisfy your curiosity, or to relieve your guilt? When you give generously, are you actually trying to enhance your reputation or be forgiven? Do you do things just to feel good or get a thrill? Do you go to church to fulfill your obligation? Do you get involved to manipulate a response or take advantage of someone? In reality, is it to get a reaction, pity, recognition, or money? Do you volunteer in your child’s classroom primarily to critique the new teacher or ward off loneliness? Do you share prayer requests for a chance to gossip? Or, is your agenda to give glory to God? Is it to represent Jesus to someone by serving him or her? Is it to spread the good news of the gospel or to ask for God’s help? Listen to what this influential woman has to say about her motives.

 

1. What’s your first and last name?

 

2. What is a general, one-sentence description of yourself as God sees you—as a godly, influential woman?

 

3. How would you describe your personal life? (This section is about who you are, as if it already were how you and God wanted it to be. There are no right or wrong topics to include in this introductory section; however, save comments about your “spirituality” and “reason you were born” for questions 4 and 5.)

 

4. How would you describe your spirituality, as if it already were how you and God wanted it to be?

 

5. How would you describe why you were born, as if you were living the life you were meant to live? This is where you should talk boldly about what God has asked you to do or about your unique life purpose, as if it has already happened! It should be more specific than your personal or spiritual answers above. Write a GOD-SIZED response overflowing with his best design for your life!

 

6. How would you answer today’s question: “What’s Your Motive for Serving?”

 

7. Will you write a two-sentence quote, as a woman of influence, to give some clarity or hope or advice to others about the importance of having pure motives?

 

What’s Your Motive?

 

Katie’s Answer:

 

To answer that question, I have to ask you what day of the week it is because that’s about how often my motives change. For the most part, my motives for serving others are because God is my God and he has commanded me to love others, forgive them, wash their feet, point them to Jesus, disciple them, and worship with them. I serve to obey God and bring him glory. I serve because my heart breaks over the evil in this world. I want to be a change agent who helps people know the power, mercy, and grace of God. So, that’s how I’m feeling today. Other days I serve to impress people, to be thanked, to feel good about my contribution, or to relieve my guilt. I think the one impure motive that disgusts me the most is when I serve to try to get attention.

 

Samuel Learned about Motives

 

When Samuel anointed David king over Israel, the Lord told Samuel not to look at David’s outward appearance, because he, the Lord, looks at the heart. Read 1 Samuel 16:1–13. Are you any good at reading other people’s hidden motives?

 

Katie’s Answer:

 

Yes, I would say that I am. Probably because I’ve got so many hidden ones myself, I’ve become quite good at spotting hypocrisy!

 

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

 

We justify our actions by appearances; GOD examines our motives. (Proverbs 21:2, MSG)

 

SUGGESTED PRAYER

 

Dear Lord God, help me, [Katie], not to be self-deceived, not to justify my actions because, on the surface, they appear good. Instead, teach me to examine my motives like you do. Today I pray that I will see my wrong motives in your crystal-clear light. Forgive me for all the times I have acted out of impure motives. And, thank you that you have helped me to have right motives in your sight many times. Convict me daily with the acid test: “Are my motives pleasing to you, God?”

 

So . . . What Insight, Prayer, or Action Step Has God Laid on Your Heart Today?

 

Katie’s Answer:

 

Today, I will ask my ministry partner if she would like to go to lunch on Sunday at noon or sometime within the next two weeks. At lunch, I will ask her if she will be my accountability partner in this area of pure and impure motives. I will give her permission to ask me about my motives for any and all assignments and relationships, and I will promise her a blunt response each time she asks.