EPISODE 244 – SERVING WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVE (DO AS UNTO THE LORD)

Sunday, 24th September, 2023

SERVING WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVE (DO AS UNTO THE LORD)

“And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.” 

Luke 19:31 (NKJV).

From Luke 19, we see how a donkey becomes a Kingdom celebrity because He was useful to the Lord.

Motives make a lot of difference. They determine the extent you go for the Lord.

The right motives dispel any idea of disappointment.

There are people who make themselves available and useful to the Lord because of what they will gain.

You may be easily discouraged when your motives are centered on fame, power, social standing, and financial gain.

The owners of the donkey didn’t need to be convinced with many words.

As they heard that the Master was in need of it, they didn’t argue nor ask further questions.

Which means, their motive for giving out the young donkey was the LORD.

The only reason you must give your resources or even yourself to the Lord must be the LORD!

Doubtlessly there is honour in serving the Lord.

But we must not serve the Lord because we want to be honoured or have an elevated social standing.

Your joy should be that through your service to the Lord, many lives have been blessed and the Lord has been glorified.

Our service to the Lord blesses people.

It is not to use people as crosspieces on a ladder for your personal levitation to  towering applause, validation, and prosperity.

There have been times when the emphasis moves to how the lonely donkey became honourable.

However, we must know that the owners’ motive was not their personal honour and fame nor that of the donkey.

”…Because the Lord…” Luke 19:31 (NKJV)

Nobody celebrated the donkey, it was the Lord who was celebrated.

“So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.” Luke 19:35-37

Nobody thought of the donkey, it was all about the Lord.

Your joy of service to the Lord should be that, He is seen, celebrated, praised, and honoured.

John the Baptist said,

” He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance. “ John 3:30 (Names of God Bible)

In John 6:1-15, we see a little boy, who selflessly gave his lunch out to Jesus and it fed more than 5,000 people. 

The young boy didn’t consider Himself. His motive was this:

Jesus needs it, and I will trust Him with it.

The joy of our service and giving to the Lord is for the impact of the Lord in the lives of others.

In 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul said,

” And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?” (Berean Standard Bible)

From the Message Bible:

” I’d be most happy to empty my pockets, even mortgage my life, for your good. So how does it happen that the more I love you, the less I’m loved?”

Amplified:

“But I will very gladly spend [my own resources] and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you greatly, am I to be loved less [by you]?”

And then The Passion Translation:

“ I am glad to give you myself and all I have for your spiritual good, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.”

Beloved the Lord has need of you; avail yourself for His use, not because of your selfish gains.

Be motivated and inspired by His Lordship, His love, and the impact of others.

” People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives” Proverbs 16:2 (NLT)

Selah.