Jesus Your Motivation

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Jesus as the Driving Force of Life

Today, we’re going to be talking about Jesus Your Motivation as we finish our message series from the book of Colossians. People have all kinds of motivations for the things they do and the things they say. Some people are motivated by greed, power, or pride.

Others are motivated by wanting to do their best, to help others or to accomplish something important in life. Motives are often hard to discern. When a crime is committed, the detectives attempt to discern the motive of the criminal.

The crime is obvious, but why did he do it, and what was the motive? One person may do something good for someone and a second person could do the exact same thing, but they could have radically different motives. God’s Word says that motives are important.

Proverbs 16:2 (NIV) All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

People think their actions are right and good, but that’s just the visible. The Lord looks into the heart and weighs the motives for the action or the words. Motives can be good or bad.

A “good” action done for a bad motive is not really good, is it? God’s Word reminds us that a day is coming when everything hidden will be revealed. On judgment God will expose the motives of everyone’s heart.

1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Some people who seemed to have great success in life, in business or even in the church will be exposed as phonies, because their motives were corrupt. What should be our motivation in life? Let’s look again at the final verse we talked about last Sunday.

Colossians 3:17 (NIV) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I see two interrelated motives commanded by God in this verse. Everything you do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. In other words, our motivation should be primarily to please and obey our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Secondarily, our motive should be to live in such a way that we give thanks to God. What are your motives in life? I recently read a story about Commander Joe Rochefort who was an intelligence officer during WWII.

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Joe worked tirelessly to break the Japanese communication codes and finally succeeded. Joe was able to tell his superiors that the Japanese would attack Midway on June 3. Because of this intelligence, the American Navy surprised the Japanese at Midway and won the battle, a critical defeat for Japan.

Joe Rochefort never received credit for his efforts as others falsified the records and claimed credit for themselves. Recently, sealed records were opened and Joe’s accomplishments were finally recognized. Joe kept a note on his desk which said “We can accomplish anything providing no one cares who gets the credit.”

Joe’s motives were not about the credit he would receive, but he simply wanted to serve his country. In the same way, our motive in life should not be to receive the thanks or praise of people for what we do. Our motive should be to please the one who died for us, Jesus Christ.

In our message today, Jesus Your Motivation, we’re going to look at 3 areas of life that we can serve Jesus in.

Serve Jesus in Your Family

In this section of Colossians, God’s Word gets very practical. It begins with our closest relationships, those in our own family. Everything we do in our families should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The first principles pertain to wives and husbands. Although everyone is equal in God’s eyes, God has set into place in the world, principles of authority. Here the Scripture instructs wives to submit to the authority of their husbands.

Wives Submit and Husbands Love

Colossians 3:18-19 (NIV) Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

When does submission come into effect? Submission to authority, in this case, wives to husbands, comes into effect when there is disagreement. Notice that this is not an unqualified submission.

Wives are to submit, as is fitting in the Lord. Submission should never violate your conscience or cause you to sin. The husband’s responsibility is to love his wife.

In other Scriptures, this love of the husband for his wife is to be the same kind of love that Christ has for the church. This kind of love does not demand submission, but serves the wife. Working together in this way should be a joy.

Children Obey and Parents Encourage

Colossians 3:20-21 (NIV) Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Here children are to learn to obey their parents in everything. This obedience pleases the Lord. These instructions assume a Christian family and that the obedience required is indeed pleasing to God.

Next, we see that the parents, specifically the fathers are not to embitter or exasperate their children. Demanding more than the children are capable of discourages them. Parents are to encourage their children to live pleasing to the Lord.

Living Out Christlike Family Relationships

Today, we are focusing on how Jesus can be our motivation in our family relationships. The marriage relationship should be fitting in the Lord and the parent-child relationship should be pleasing to the Lord. The rubber hits the road in a marriage relationship when there is conflict.

When two people don’t agree about something, the right direction forward is to work together to discover what Jesus wants. Then you can agree to move forward in the name of Jesus in your marriage. If agreement can’t be reached, which should be rare, then follow God’s principles of love and submission.

Children may not always understand all the dynamics of parent’s decisions, but they should cheerfully obey. They can trust that God will bless them as they learn obedience. Jesus is our motivation in our family relationships.

Serve Jesus in Your Job

Next, God’s Word moves to our relationships on the job. There is a system of authority in every workplace that involves multiple employees. God desires for you to serve Jesus on your job.

When you serve Jesus at work, you can be blessed and you can bless others there through your witness. The same principles that applied in the first century still apply today. God’s Word shows us how to live out our faith where we work.

Obey Your Boss

Colossians 3:22 (NIV) Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

In New Testament times, businesses were typically run with masters and slaves. As thankfully slavery has been abolished in our time, the same principles now apply to businesses. As an employee, you are to obey your boss, whether they are watching or not.

Notice that you are to work with a sincere heart in the fear of the Lord. So, if your employer asked you to do something that was not pleasing to God, you should decline. Your motivation at work is rooted in reverence for Jesus, not fear of people.

Work as Working for Jesus

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Your primary motive at work is not to win the boss’s favor. Since you are serving the Lord Jesus in your job, you will receive your reward from him. This reward includes both present blessing and future inheritance.

Your boss has a lot of flaws and makes mistakes, but your motive at your job is to serve the Lord Jesus. This perspective makes every difference in the world. It also reshapes how you view success, effort, and integrity.

Treat Those Under Your Authority Fairly

Colossians 4:1 (NIV) Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

If you are a boss or manager at work, treat those reporting to you rightly and fairly. Don’t take advantage of them or use your authority selfishly. Remember that you also answer to a Master in heaven.

Jesus provides for your every need and blesses you as you serve Him. As a manager, you should do the same, as much as is in your power, for your subordinates. Serve Jesus in your job, regardless of your role.

Examining the Motives Behind Our Work

Think honestly for a moment about the question, “What is my motivation at work?” Is your motivation simply to do as little as possible to make as much as possible? Or is your motivation shaped by service to Jesus?

Who are you working for at work? Are you working for yourself, your boss, or for Jesus? It would be a good practice to remind yourself every day as you go in to work that you are serving Jesus on your job.

What if you are a student? As a student, you are serving the Lord Jesus in your studies. The seeds you sow in faithful service now will bring a harvest of blessing later.

Serve Jesus in Your Witness

We’ve talked about serving Jesus in your family and serving Jesus on your job. Now this passage speaks of serving Jesus in your witness. To serve Jesus in your witness is to represent him well to those who do not yet know Him.

Your witness may be within your family, on your job, or in your school. Anywhere you interact with unbelievers is an opportunity to serve Jesus. God places you intentionally among people who need to see Christ in you.

Living a Life Marked by Prayer

Colossians 4:2 (NIV) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

To be devoted to prayer is to make prayer a priority and to persist in prayer. Being watchful means staying spiritually alert and attentive to God’s leading. Gratitude shapes our prayers with humility and faith.

This passage applies prayer directly to outreach and witness. Prayer prepares our hearts and opens doors for the gospel. Without prayer, our witness loses power and clarity.

Praying for Gospel Opportunities

Colossians 4:3-4 (NIV) And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Paul asks for prayer in three specific areas. He asks that God would open doors for witness. He asks for clarity in content and communication.

These are prayers we should pray for missionaries and pastors. They are also prayers we should pray for ourselves. God wants every believer to be an active witness.

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV) Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Outsiders are those who are not part of the church family. God gives each believer opportunities to witness through daily interactions. Wisdom and grace are essential in these moments.

Our conversations should reflect kindness, truth, and discernment. We are to be prepared to answer questions about our faith. Our motivation is to serve Jesus by pointing others to Him.

Engaging Others With Intentional Faith

We have many opportunities for outreach at Life Church. Events like the church picnic and outreach movie night create natural openings for invitation. Every Sunday is also an opportunity to invite someone.

Pray for opportunities to share and then make the most of them. God works through willing and prayerful hearts. Serve Jesus in your witness with faith and courage.

Conclusion: Living With Christ as Our Motivation

One of the reasons I’ve switched to preaching through entire passages of Scripture is to help you learn how to read the Bible yourself. As you read, ask God what He wants you to apply or implement. Scripture calls us to thoughtful obedience.

Today, we’ve talked about serving Jesus in your family, your job, and your witness. As we close, ask God what area He wants you to work on. Listen for His direction and respond in faith.

Circle the point in the outline that applies to you. Pray about it this week and ask God to help you make changes. Whatever you do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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