Motivation for Service/ Ministry

Title: Motivation for Service - 1
Date: Oct 28, 2008
Topic(s): Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Matthew 6:1, Luke 12:21

Tami Weissert: Need some motivation for serving God? Then take a listen to this Bible Minute with Woodrow Kroll.

Woodrow Kroll: Loving Jesus, serving Him--that's good. That's good motivation, by the way, but God doesn't stop there. His gracious rewards are a strong and legitimate motivation for you and me to serve the Lord. In fact, Jesus commands us to lay up for ourselves "treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt" (Matthew 6:19 -20). He urges us to be rich toward God, Luke 12:21.

The Lord Jesus Himself lists rewards as a motivation for service. Listen to this, Matthew 6:1, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you'll have no reward from your father who is in heaven."
Tami Weissert: The Bible has a lot to say about your motivation and service.

Title: Motivation for Service - 2
Date: Oct 29, 2008
Topic(s): Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17, 2 John 8, 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tami Weissert: Think about this -- what motivates you to serve God? Here's today's Bible Minute with Woodrow Kroll.

Woodrow Kroll: Now, rewards ought to be an important motivation for us. First Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race, all runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So, run, so that you may attain it." That's rewards. That's motivation.
First Peter 1:17, "And if you call on Him as Father, who judges impartially according to one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile." God will judge us impartially but He will judge us according to our deeds. Rewards are designed by God to motivate us to service.

Tami Weissert: Heavenly rewards -- they were God's idea! See how that shapes your service, when you pick up today's study at bibleminute.org.

Title: Motivation for Service
Date: Oct 28, 2008
Topic(s): Service/Servanthood, Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 2 John 1:7-9, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 16:27, Philippians 3:13-14, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 6:1

A loaded station wagon pulled into the only remaining campsite. Four youngsters leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up a tent. The boys then rushed off to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. A nearby camper marveled to the youngsters' father: "That, sir, is some display of teamwork."
The father replied, "Well, I have a system. No one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up."
There are many ways to motivate people; the one God uses is rewards.
What Does God Say?

The Lord Jesus Himself lists rewards as a motivation for service (Matthew 6:1, 10:42, 16:27). But how can you serve in such a way that you will be eligible for rewards? Here are three ways:
Diligence: "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward" (2 John 1:8, NLT).

Read 2 John 1:7-9 and answer the following questions:
Who are the "deceivers" and what are they teaching?
What do those who remain faithful to the teachings about Christ possess?
How are we to treat those who hold false teachings?

Dedication: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT).

Why is it important to focus your energies on the future?

What is Paul working for?

Through whom does God call us to heaven?

Determination: "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NLT).

What part of you is being renewed every day?
How does it encourage you to know that your troubles today are temporary and short-lived compared to eternity?
What do today's problems produce?
How successful are you at "fixing your gaze on things that cannot be seen."

My Thoughts
Every Christian should hope to someday hear Jesus personally say to him or her, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21, NLT). The greatest reward of all is to know that you have pleased your Lord and Master. But that can't be won lightly. Determine today that you will strive with all your might to be one of those who will be received with such a commendation.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV).

My Part
What is your strongest motivation for service to the Lord? Identify what motivates you, and then ask the Lord for sensitivity, opportunity and strength for service for Him--our Lord and our God

Title: Run the Race
Date: Oct 29, 2008
Topic(s): Christian Living/Situational
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:8, Matthew 16:27, Hebrews 12:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 3:8, Luke 6:23, Revelation 22:12, 1 Corinthians 9:24

As the world reels under the impact of what some have called an "economic tsunami," one thing is pretty clear: Many corporate leaders made decisions based on greed rather than wisdom. They were lining their own pockets at the expense of everyone else.
So, it's only natural to wonder if considering rewards as a motive for service is not the same issue. Could it be a sign of greed or is it something the Bible approves of? Let's see what God's Word says.

What Does God Say?
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV).
What is the prize that Paul is talking about in this verse?
Paul compares the Christian life to a race. How are we to run it?
In light of the comparison Paul makes, what are some of the implications if you want to win the prize?

My Thoughts
If you answered the first question as "salvation," think again. Salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9), not something that we win by our own efforts. Instead, Paul is talking about rewards. And, instead of seeing it as a sign of greed, he actually urges us to do everything that we can to win them.

My Part
Consider today how you might be able to run the race better and win the prize. Take a sheet of paper and divide it down the middle. On one side, list some of the attitudes/activities that need to be cast off to run the race well (see Hebrews 12:1, Colossians 3:8). On the other side, list some of the attitudes/activities that you should put on (Colossians 3:12).