Once in the evening, when all our family members went to their own rooms, I stayed in the kitchen, putting away dishes, washing the floor, and cleaning up. Usually, I use this time to dive into my own thoughts and prayers. But that day my mind was overflowing with interesting ideas:
"I bet mom is very pleased that I can do all this instead of her today!" "Maybe dad is watching me and thinking I'm a good housewife." "My husband is probably very proud that I'm a humble and loving helper!"
*not our kitchen, just a Pinterest pic
But then I paused and wondered: am I trying to impress people by serving them, helping around the house, basically doing my chores? Is my main motive to please someone and rise in their eyes?
And the main question was, how does God want to see my heart in my ministry?
Motivation for Good Deeds
Very often, doing some kind of ministry or simply doing good things, we are driven by different things. I figured there are three main ones, but one of them is better.
Motive №1. Impressing Someone
The same was as I tried to make a positive impression on my family, we sometimes do ministry in the church. Whether it is a song or a sermon from the stage, or just helping out in VBS, when people look at us, we are often more worried about what they will think of us rather than of what exactly we're doing.
Motive №2. Personal Benefit
In many cases, this motive follows the first one. "What if there's someone in the audience who invites me to speak in their church?" "What if this girl who goes to the choir with me will like me?" Maybe someone will reward me for my efforts, maybe someone will notice me and this will bring new opportunities, or maybe I will get something good out of this! This also includes emotional satisfaction (because doesn't it feel good to do charity work?).
Motive №3. Pleasing God
When I was a teenager and our worship team was supposed to participate in morning service, I spent a lot of time picking an outfit and doing my hair. My parents would always remind me, that my goal was not to be the most beautiful girl on stage, or impress someone in the audience with my singing skills, but to worship God.
2016
So from the very beginning I always lived with this thought: am I trying to please God with my ministry and my actions? Or am I driven by selfish motives?
Apostle Paul also once asked this question:
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10).
Turns out, being the servant of Christ means serving not to please people, but to please God.
When you're singing on stage, talking about Jesus in a conversation, putting chairs away after service, watching kids during Sunday school, explaining the Internet to your grandma, helping your sister with homework, or even doing your own homework diligently, you can glorify God! You just have to have the right heart.
Why Should We Please God?
"Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more." (1 Thes. 4:1)
The more I read the New Testament, the more similar verses I find. None of the authors wrote explicitly: "your goal is to please God", but all of them implied it and mentioned it in their teachings. All of Christianity is permeated with this idea.
By the way, Jesus' ministry started with God's confirmation that He was "well-pleased" with Jesus (Mark 1:11). This story inspires me very much: Jesus hadn't performed all the miracles yet but He already pleased His Father with His heart and His everyday life. If we want to be Christians living a Christ-like life, our hearts should be driven by this idea as well.
How Can We Please God?
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Col. 3:23-24)
I think it's pretty self-explanatory: put your heart into everything you do (your ministry, behavior, relationships), having the right motive in mind. Another Bible verse adds "whether you eat or drink" (1 Cor. 10:31), which proves the point that this principle can be applied to anything.
God looks at our hearts and our efforts. We are not doing everything right all the time, and we can never be perfect, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that our hearts would be fully dedicated to Him and that our desire would be to please Him. God will definitely appreciate that!
The ending of this verse tells us that if we serve God this way, we can receive a reward. Because if we have such a heart, our ministry to Lord Christ will be acceptable and worthy.
And there's nothing left for me to say!
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