Job 25-27
Psalm 99
James 4
-Devotion by Makenna Landry (MN)
What’s your motivation?
In life, why do you do what you do? Is it to get that A on the Spanish quiz to make your parents proud? Is it to get that promotion at work? Is it to be wealthy to buy whatever you want?
James confronts his readers with a list of things they are doing. They want what they don’t have, they hurt others, they fight, they forget to ask, and they ask with the wrong motivation. James reminds us to consider when our priority isn’t on God and our motivation isn’t to do God’s will. When we draw humbly to God that is when we see His will and motivation come into picture.
James questions the readers “what is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you” (James 4:1a NASB95). He points out that it’s someone’s human desires, motivations, and pride. This reminds me of the movie Emperor’s New Groove.
Kuzco only wants what he wants. He throws a guy out a window because the gentleman threw off his groove. He plans to demolish someone’s home because he thinks it would be a good vacation spot, and he refuses help when he finds himself as a llama. In his attempts to return home, he faces difficulties and ends up alone because he is too focused on his own needs and desires that he rejects Pacha’s kindness.
This can happen between you and your siblings, friends, spouse, neighbors, or fellow church members. Conflict is sparked quickly when our motivation is simply self satisfaction instead of focused on bringing glory to God and following His will.
In Job today, we read that Job struggled to admit that his friends could even be remotely right and he refused to humble himself. In Psalm 99, it displayed many examples of individuals who saw success because their focus was on God. Psalm 99:6 mentions three individuals: Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. Each of these three did the will of God. Moses, however, is seen struggling to follow God’s will. He is scared and focused on himself when God speaks to him through a burning bush. He strikes a rock for water without the permission of God to satisfy the people. And yet, he was remembered as a great man of faith following God’s will instead of his own.
God has set up many reminders to us to help fix our motivation. We have account after account of individuals who find success when their motivation was to do God’s will. Like when Moses finally listened and helped the people escape Egypt. And there are examples of people who face failure when their motivation is self surviving like Jonah when he ran from God.
Do you have a time in your life when your motivation was on yourself? Do you remember how that went? I know I have plenty of examples when my motivation wasn’t focused on glorifying God.
I used to quiz when I went to FUEL and I never won first place. I skipped a year or two but a lot of the material I memorized stays with me to this day. The year I did the worst was the year my motivation was to win a trophy. The Michigan team had been doing well for a few years and the year before they got second place in overtime: it was some of the best quizzing I’ve ever watched. With the hopes to be like them, I tried my best to live up to the Michigan winning name but failed spectacularly. I don’t even remember the material that was quizzed on that year. From then on, my motivation shifted. Instead of wanting to quiz to win, I focused on bringing glory to God by writing His words on my heart. I also focused on building relationships with my fellow quizzers. My fellow quizzers and I would laugh during practice pausing for dance breaks and singing our way through the memory verses. Instead of being motivated by the desire to gain fame or win a trophy, I focused on memorizing God’s word. Those years, I remember the material, the joy, and the friendships that I made.
When we have the wrong motives, our life will become clouded and we won’t reach our dreams. Instead, James reminds us that we must humble ourselves and follow God’s will. With God as the center focus, we are much more likely to succeed. Hopefully you won’t have to experience being miserable and mourning in order to humble yourself to God.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
Think of a time when you were in a fight with someone. Would that quarrel be resolved quicker if your motivation was focused on forgiveness, restoration, and selflessness?
How does your motivation impact the results of what you do?
What is one way you can improve your motivation, being focused on God instead of self?
PRAY:
Dear God, thank you for the many individuals who have gone before us and thank you for providing and guiding them. You have answered the prayers of thousands before me and you have forgiven those who have fallen short. Please forgive me of my sins and shortcoming. Reveal to me how I can walk in Your path and not follow the desires of my own heart. May honor, glory, and praise be Yours. Amen
Makenna Landry, née Cisler, is an ABC graduate and licensed pastor of the Church of God General Conference working to service God by teaching His word and supporting His people through all aspects of life. She has two children, a passion for helping people, and loves Disney. She spends her time writing and enjoys playing board games with friends and family.
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