What is YOUR Motive?

I recently heard ' It is not what you do, but why you do it!' Our motive will can change our experience. There are many people who do good things but maybe for the wrong reason. They volunteer time at the the local homeless shelter but the question is why? Some do it because it is the cool thing. Some do it because their friends do it. Some do it because it is expect of them. The question is who is expecting them to do anything?

How often in political campaigns have we seen candidates spooning mash potatoes onto the plate of some unfortunate person. You look at that scene and think to yourself, they are not really trying to help people, this is all about a photo op. Their motive is not helping the homeless. Their motive is really themselves. Making themselves look good so people will have a better opinion of them. It is not that the homeless shelter doesn't need help or even some press but a person's motive is huge in the reality of the action. As we analyze the whys of life, and adjust our motives, I think we will receive the true satisfaction that comes from our actions.

Who do we live for? Why do we do what we do? What gives us that reason to get out of bed in the morning? The answers to these questions will give us help in identifying our motives. Many people are living life to please others and it is never enough. There is never that sense of accomplishment or satisfaction because we are living to try to please someone's unstated reason for their approval of us and our actions. See, that is the problem, it is the unstated standards that we are trying to live up to. How much is enough? How can I fulfill an undetermined standard or expectation? We find ourself driven to perform, motivated by the approval of others. The end result is frustration and anger because we can never measure up. We are either driven to burnout or concede to defeat and give up completly.

As we define the motive of our life there is an accompanying peace and satisfaction that becomes ours. We begin to live, really experience life in its purest form. I love to help other people. But I can not live for other people's happiness. If that was my motive I would feel like a failure because I found out long ago you can't please everyone all the time. I personally am motivated to make my heavenly Father happy. How many times I say to Him I just want to put a smile on your face. Or when you think of me I want you to have a smile. He is my motivation. He is the reason I get out of bed in the morning.

I do want to please Him but I also know that my flesh is weak and in reality I can not please him. That is why I must trust the gift of his Son's shed blood to cleanse me and make me accepted in Him. In Jesus I am accepted now. I love God and want to please him but I am not accepted or rejected by the Father, based on my actions alone. I am accepted by my Father by Jesus' actions. I am accepted in the beloved Son Jesus.

So here is the question what is your motive? Why do you do what you do? And who are you living for ? Yourself? Others? Some undefined standard of living that will gain you acceptance? Think it through and make adjustments if necessary.