What motivates you? Think about this question for a moment. How has a question like this changed for you over time?
Let’s face it, what motivates us as children is most likely different in our stages of life– teenagers, young adults, those of us who now have “seasoned” status. And yet, motivation is important to us, but time is not the only factor. Significant life events change the course and change our motivation.
Such was the case when Jesus entered the scene in Galilee. The Matthew passage is set in the context of the mother of James and John, Salome, who are the sons of Zebedee. Salome came up to Jesus and asked him a question. May my sons sit one on your right and one on your left in the coming kingdom? This is an interesting request and pretty forward. But rather than be ruffled, Jesus responds, “You don’t know what you are asking.” And then, he follows with a question “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” The men answer in the affirmative. They were motivated by power. The parents were motivated by pride. But Jesus has another idea. Jesus was thinking about service, the sons of Zebedee were caught in the hope of “being someone,” on the right-hand and the left hand of Jesus in his Kingdom, as a way of doing something great. Rather, Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel is about self-sacrifice and living life for others. Jesus’ motivation in life is deeply connected with the ancients of the faith, like the Prophet Isaiah. Jesus led a life of service and devotion to God. His motivation was not about his own glory. This is why we remember Jesus and his teaching, he lived as he spoke and preached, like the prophet saying in word and deed, “Here I am Lord, Send Me.”
Likewise, in the passage of Ephesians we see a community devoted to the teaching of Jesus and being motivated by devotion to His mission, relationship with others and with God. Unlike other religions of the age, early Christians practiced their faith in small communities dedicated to the union of spirit and mind. Salvation is a gift from God, not to be earned, but received, says the passage. The community was motivated in outdoing one another in kindness and love as was the custom of the faith.[1] Because of that bold statement Christians find their motivation of service; not in it being an even exchange, – “I will believe and serve in exchange for salvation.” No, instead it is something much more marvelous, an unmerited gift without cost.
So what motivates you? Think about that question for a moment. Now reflect on this gift of salvation that comes to us without cost or price, motivating us to deeper devotion and service to God, “Here I am Lord, Send Me.”
1 Romans 12:10