January 2, 2023 – 1 Thessalonians 1 – What Your Motivation?

Leviticus 3, Matthew 3, 1 Thessalonians 1

There are lots of reasons we do something for someone else. In the case of our employers, we do what we do for the reward of a paycheck. In school, we would do what we were told for the grade, or as in my case, out of fear of the consequences. We may do something for someone thinking it will be good for our reputation.

What is our motivation for what we do for God? Do we do what we are doing because we are trying to prove ourselves worthy? That is a gross misunderstanding of the Gospel. Jesus Christ alone and our faith in him makes us worthy. Do we do what we do for treasure in heaven? I don’t think there are literal piles of gold waiting for us as a reward for our good deeds. What waits for us in eternity with God and our loved ones is far more valuable than gold. Do we do what we do out of the fear of the eternal fires of hell?

In giving thanks for the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul remembers their kingdom work and the motivation for it. “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians1:3NIV

In giving thanks for their kingdom efforts of work, labor, and endurance he mentions their motivation… faith, love, and hope. The best motivators for what we do for the kingdom are faith, love, and hope. We may have began this journey motivated by other reasons, for instance you may have been moved out of a fear of hell to receive Jesus, but as we grow in the faith, our motivations for what we do become purer. The purest is faith, love, and hope.

As we become more and more like Jesus our Lord, our motivations continue to develop until ultimately we are motivated entirely by love, love for God and love for our neighbor. If that happens in this lifetime, we will have been perfected in love.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians13:13NIV

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for making me worthy through your life, death, and resurrection. As I seek to please you by joining you in the work of your kingdom, help me to grow in my motivations. Help me to operate out of faith, love, and hope, moving on to being perfected in love. Amen.