Servanthood - Danger Zones for Motives

PP- God is calling us to a higher level

PP- God is calling you to a higher level

PP- God is calling me to a higher level!

PP- That level is true Servanthood! Servanthood is the series we are studying. Being a servant of Christ means more than wearing a Christian t-shirt.

That level is true Servanthood!

AS servant of Christ, our motives are of the utmost concern! And there are Motive Danger Zones. Areas in our lives that need pure motives. We are in a series entitled Servanthood

PP- Biblical Servanthood- Loving acts performed in the power of the Holy Spirit to meet the temporal and spiritual needs of those around us-and leaving the results to God.”

AS we learned on last week, servants of Christ must have proper motives, a pure heart when serving.

PP-Last week I taught on a critical element of serving God, your Motives! It is critical to gauge motives behind the actions! It is not an option, servants of Christ must have proper motives, a pure heart when serving.

PP- Definition: A motive is the underlying reason for any action. The sense of need, desire, or fear that prompts an individual to act or begin movement.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 3705 Running for Dinner or for Life

There is an old fable about a dog that boasted of his ability as a runner. One day he chased a rabbit and failed to catch it. The other dogs ridiculed him on account of his previous boasting. His reply was, “You must remember that the rabbit was running for his life, while I was only running for my dinner.” The incentive is all-important.

Humor: There is an old fable about a dog that boasted of his ability as a runner. One day he chased a rabbit and failed to catch it. The other dogs ridiculed him on account of his previous boasting. His reply was, PP- “What you guys don’t understand is, I was running for my dinner, while the rabbit was running for his life.” Lesson, motives is all-important.

David, when giving some of his last words, spoke to his son in front of the ancient leaders of Israel in a national assembly and expressed the importance of having a pure motive when serving God!

Last week we dealt with “Motives”.

David at the end of his life, told his son Solomon that God had chosen him to be the next king.

PP-1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)

9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

PP-1 Chronicles 28:9 (The Message)

9“And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father’s God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he’ll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he’ll leave you for good.

Notice the advice he gives to his son. Advice that he deems to be the most important in life! Serve God with pure motives!

The reason David was avid about Solomon having pure motives before God is because David knew about the :”Danger zones”, where your motives can either make you or break you!

David knew about the three danger zones, where your motives can either make you or break you!

They are areas in life where most people struggle, especially if they do not have pure motives.

PP- Let’s talk about “Danger Zones for Motives”

(NIV)

As servants of Christ, we must constantly check ourselves to make sure that we are doing things with right motives! There are three danger zones we have to be very cautious about and check our motives when operating in these areas. If you do not regulate your motives in these three areas, it can set you back years in life or even cause you to lose your life!

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

Love, 2. Money, and 3. Power

1. Love, 2. Money, and 3. Power

The first danger zone is “Love”

PP- 1. Love - (Someone shout danger)

As servants of Christ, we must constantly check ourselves to make sure that we are doing things with right motives! There are three danger zones we have to be very cautious about and check our motives when operating in these areas. If you do not regulate your motives in these three areas, it can set you back years in life!

The reason David was avid about Solomon moving into this new position was because of the challenges and pitfalls that awaited him. There are three “Motive Danger zones”. Areas of our life that we must exercise pure motives in.

PP- (NIV)

Social scientist, psychologist, and the such explain that our motives are determined by our needs and pleasures. Needs and pleasures aren’t bad in themselves, BUT, if our “flesh”, the sinful nature is allowed to run roughshod in our lives, the sinful nature will hijack those needs and desires, and taint them!

Social scientist, psychologist, and the such explain that our motives are determined by our needs and pleasures. Needs and pleasures aren’t bad in themselves, BUT, if our “flesh”, the sinful nature is allowed to run roughshod in our lives, the sinful nature will highjack those needs and desires, and taint them!

I used the exampl last week, that we have a need for food and nutrition. But if our flesh is allowed free rein and it isn’t kept in check, it will highjack your need and bend it towards some sinful, or at the least a harmful desire.

I taught on four activities we can exercise in order to control our “flesh man”, the sinful nature.

PP-How do we deal with this “flesh” issue that affects our Motives!

1. Make reading the WORD of God a daily routine.

(NIV)

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2. Guard the Heart

(NIV)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

3. Have for Your ambition to please God!

(NIV)

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

4. Be led by the Holy Spirit!

(NIV)

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

“It is not God’s job to control our flesh, it’s our job to walk in the SPIRIT!”

(Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)

If we are going to serve God with effectiveness and righteousness, we must serve him as David told Solomon with the proper motives!

As servants of Christ, we must constantly check ourselves to make sure that we are doing things with right motives! There are three danger zones we have to be very cautious about and check our motives when operating in these areas. If you do not regulate your motives in these three areas, it can set you back years in life!

WE learned that motives are determined by needs and pleasures. Social scientist, psychologist, do not address a biblical fact about our needs and pleasures, that they, the needs and pleasure can be hijacked by out sinful nature, which leads to impure motives.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

We talked about guarding ourselves against the flesh nature, the sinful nature that we all posses that attempts fuel out sinful nature.

When you love God like this, your love for God will became your nexus, the link, tie, or means of connection with others! Because your love for God will be the compass for your life!

PP- Three Danger Zones for Motives.

So when it is time for “love”, you’ll have the right motives, because your love is being steering by a Godly love!

(NIV)

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

Love - (Someone shout danger)

2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

My true love for God will also have an effect on my motive for loving others!

Illustration: A young lady went to a pastor and said, “I’m going to get married.” The Pastor responded, “To who?”. The lady said, “To a pastor.” The Pastor responded by saying, he was going to have his wife talk to her. The pastor was concerned because he had heard some not so good things about this pastor.” The pastor’s wife talked with this young lady and told her that she’d better be careful and that this pastor she is trying to marry needs to talk with your spiritual father. The lady got upset and said, “You are just mad because I’m going to be like you!” Bottom line was that she wanted to marry a pastor so bad that she was willing to do anything to get what she wanted! And other things came out about her motives. What she didn’t realize, what that this so called pastor had been married several times before. And that this pastor just wanted a wife to take the heat off of him. Wrong motives all the way around! The young lady found out that a week after they got married, this pastor was messing around with.

Illustration: A young lady went to a pastor and said, “I’m going to get married.” The Pastor responded, “To who?”. The lady said, “To a pastor.” The Pastor responded by saying, he was going to have his wife talk to her. The pastor was concerned because he had heard some not so good things about this pastor.” The pastor’s wife talked with this young lady and told her that she’d better be careful and that this pastor she is trying to marry needs to talk with your spiritual father. The lady got upset and said, “You are just mad because I’m going to be like you!” Bottom line was that she wanted to marry a pastor so bad that she was willing to do anything to get what she wanted! And other things came out about her motives. What she didn’t realize, what that this so called pastor had been married several times before. And that this pastor just wanted a wife to take the heat off of him. Wrong motives all the way around! The young lady found out that a week after they got married, this pastor was messing around with

These people had the wrong motives for love!

The next danger zone is...

2. Money - James speaks about a Christian’s motives about things and money and what people will do to get things and money.

Money - James speaks about a Christian’s motives about things and money and what people will do to get things and money.

(NIV)

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:3

The verb ask is in the middle voice, meaning, “ask for yourself.” The purpose clause that follows further clarifies, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

People who call themselves Christians, but only spend money on their pleasures, and not give money to the kingdom with regularity have no business asking God for financial blessings!

This is one reason we tithe and get a freewill offering. It is a constant reminder of who is the true provider and real owner of your resources!

Money is a subject that needs to be addressed often.

3. Power -

(NIV)

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

Their mother must have been a woman of influence. She was a humdinger. Seems like she was used to having her way! “Grant” is in the “active”, “imperative” MOOD. She is giving a command or an order. She is telling the Son of God what he is going to do!

22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.

(The word asking here in this context means “demanding” which supports the idea that she was giving Jesus instructions!)

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

(NLT)

37They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

They were requesting the two highest positions of privilege in Jesus’ kingdom.

Jesus is not against being ambitious. It is the motivation for the ambition that concerns him.

James suffered death early in the Church Age at the hands of Herod Agrippa I (), and John is thought to have died a martyr’s death near the end of the first century.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 20:20–23

James suffered death early in the Church Age at the hands of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1–2), and John is thought to have died a martyr’s death near the end of the first century.

James suffered death early in the Church Age at the hands of Herod Agrippa I (), and John is thought to have died a martyr’s death near the end of the first century.

Motivation becomes an issue when we are not honest with ourselves about why we are doing what we do? Are you being motivated by your flesh? Are you being motivated by the Holy Spirit? Are you being motivated by other people?

These are three danger zones where motives must be check.

When we give the outward appearance of obeying God but our hearts are hard, God knows. We are deceiving ourselves and others, too.

PP- “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”

This is why it is important for us to go before the throne often asking God to show us our heart.

says, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”

PP- Let’s Test Our Motives:

(NIV)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

David petitioned God for inward renewal of his heart attitude (v. 10), preservation in service (v. 11), and restoration of joy (v. 12). He was aware that he had become indifferent in his attitudes so he V 1, p 833 needed renovation.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 51:10–12

David petitioned God for inward renewal of his heart attitude (v. 10), preservation in service (v. 11), and restoration of joy (v. 12). He was aware that he had become indifferent in his attitudes so he V 1, p 833 needed renovation.

PP- Let’s Test Our Motives:

1. If my sacrificing, giving, and serving would never be seen, would I still do it?

2. If there was no visible payoff for doing this, would I still do it?

3. Would I joyfully accept a lesser role in order for the organization to serve more efficiently?

4. Do I love the praise of others and how it makes me feel?

5. Would I suffer for Christ, in order to serve a person in?

6. If others misunderstand or criticize my actions, will I stop?

7. If the people I serve didn’t show any gratitude or repay me in any way, would I still do it?

8. Do I judge my success or failure based upon my faithfulness to what God has asked me to do, or how I compare with others?

David asked for God’s Help. Because it was revealed to him that something was impure in his heart. So David asked God,

(NIV)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

David petitioned God for inward renewal of his heart attitude (v. 10), preservation in service (v. 11), and restoration of joy (v. 12). He was aware that he had become indifferent in his attitudes so he V 1, p 833 needed renovation.

I want to take you to the New Testament, to see Jesus deal with this issue of improper motives. The narrative is recorded in and .

Extra Scriptures /Info

I want to take you to the New Testament, to see Jesus deal with this issue of improper motives. The narrative is recorded in and . It is a request made by three people. a mother and two sons. In Matthew the mother speaks on behalf of the sons. In Mark only the sons are listed as making a request. .

I want to start off reading in Matthew where the mother is making the request. Then I’ll read Mark where the sons are making the request.

20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

21“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

22“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.

(NIV)

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

(NLT)

37They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

They were requesting the two highest positions of privilege in Jesus’ kingdom.

A request was made of Jesus. It is recorded in two of the gospels. In Matthew the mother of James and John speaks, in Mark James and John is seen speaking.

The request from the mother and her sons is, when Jesus gets to his final position of power in the Kingdom of God, can one of the sons sit on the right hand of Jesus, and can the other sit on the left hand of Jesus. These were the sons of the owner of a well-known fish Company. The mother might have had a little influence in the community.

Jesus responds by saying you don’t know what you’re asking!

When there are good action with wrong motives, you have what’s called ulterior motives. Meaning the reason behind your actions aren’t pure. Your actions aren’t what they appear to be!

says, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”

Because the human heart is very deceitful ( ), we can easily fool ourselves about our own motives. We can pretend that we are choosing certain actions for God or the benefit of others, when in reality we have selfish reasons. God is not fooled by our selfishness and is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” ( ).

Human beings can operate from a variety of motivations, often negative. Pride, anger, revenge, a sense of entitlement, or the desire for approval can all be catalysts for our actions. Any motivation that originates in our sinful flesh is not pleasing to God ( ). God even evaluates the condition of our hearts when we give offerings to Him ( ). Selfish motives can hinder our prayers. says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” Because our hearts are so deceitful, we should constantly evaluate our own motives and be willing to be honest with ourselves about why we are choosing a certain action.

Personal satisfactions, such as taking a vacation or winning a competition, are not wrong in themselves.

Motivation becomes an issue when we are not honest with ourselves about why we are doing things. When we give the outward appearance of obeying God but our hearts are hard, God knows. We are deceiving ourselves and others, too.

The only way we can operate from pure motives is when we “walk in the Spirit” ( , 25 ). When we allow Him to control every part of us, then our desire is to please Him and not ourselves. Our flesh constantly clamors to exalt itself, and only when we walk in the Spirit will we not gratify those desires of our flesh.

(NIV)

3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

(NIV)

27The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

One wanted to be CFO and the other COO.

(NIV)

“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

(NIV)

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

Matthew records what literally happen, Mark records what happened figuratively. James and John got their mother to speak on their behalf. Perhaps she was respected in the community. Remember their family had a fishing company. They were known in the community.

Notice: She came “kneeling down”.

This was a sign of respect and submission towards someone.

But the kneeling (outward show) needed to match the motive (the inward reasoning).

“She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.’”

“Grant” is actually an imperative verb. She wasn’t making a request, she was trying to tell Jesus what to do!

Whenever a person is making a request, especially one of significance consequences, you must check the motive behind the request. Why do they want this? Who will it benefit? How will this work?

God does the same thing! When we are asking for things as disciples of Christ, God sees our motives.

PP- (NIV)

“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”

He checks the motives behind every action, request, response, and thought!

(NIV)

“The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”

Jesus was checking the motives of James and John’s heart.

PP- One way to check a person’s motive is to put them to a test!

(NIV)

22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.

23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

(NIV)

38“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” (are you willing” or “are you prepared”.

39“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

Jesus explained that he knew that they initially wanted to take on these positions of honor. But they were going to be tested to see if there hearts are pure. I don’t have the power to give you these positions, only the Father in heaven can do this. But if you think you’re qualified to hold these powerful slots, put your resume in, but you are going to still have to prove yourselves.

You are going to drink from the cup, “Cup” was a common Old Testament metaphor for suffering, especially that caused by God’s wrath (e.g., ; ).

And can you be baptized with the same baptism I am baptized with.

Jesus was speaking of the betrayal, unfair trial, the suffering, and the death he’d have to endure.

James suffered death early in the Church Age at the hands of Herod Agrippa I ( ), and John is thought to have died a martyr’s death near the end of the first century.

This account illustrates again that the disciples did not understand Jesus’ teaching about humility (cf. 18:1–6). Peter’s question (19:27) also demonstrated a desire for position. This the disciples continued to discuss, even to the point of the Lord’s death.

Illustration: When we first acquired this land, we had to cut down many trees. Every Saturday for a couple of month, the men, came for three hours to cut down trees. It save us a great deal of money. One Friday afternoon, I got a phone call from a minister. He was looking for a church and proceeded to share with me his resume. It sounded like he wanted to be considered for a position at our church. I proceeded to tel him what time the service started. The structure of the service and I was looking forward to meeting him on Sunday to continue the discussion. Before we hung up, I said, It would be great if you could join me tomorrow because I would be meeting with the men, they would get a chance to meet him. And also for him to wear old jeans and work boots of tennis shoes because he could help us cut down the trees! He said, cut down trees, i said, yes. We acquired close to three acres and we are going to build on it but first we have to remove about 12 huge trees and this will save us money in the long run. He was excited and said, he always wanted to be with a church who was on the move!

That was around 17 years ago and I have yet to meet this minister of the gospel till this day!

(NIV)

24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—

28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

When the 10 disciples heard about the request by James and John’s mother, they became indignant. They were probably sorry they had not thought of it first! (cf. 18:1)

Jesus was of course aware of the friction evident within the group. So He called the Twelve together and reminded them of some important principles.

While some people (rulers and high officials) lord it over others, the disciples were not to do so. Greatness in the Lord’s kingdom does not come through rulership or authority but through service (20:26–27).

Jesus isn’t teaching them we shouldn’t aspire to be great! He is correcting their thinking and ignorance of how to become great!

Their goal should be sacrifice, serving, and suffering not selfish ambition! Those most highly esteemed will be those who serve, those who are humble.