Motives, Group/Introductory Lesson

Open with Prayer

Opening Story:             

              Hurricanes Idalia and Helene wreaked havoc on our North Florida community, and decimated the coastal towns in the neighboring county. As I drove around, processing the aftermath, I tried to make sense of the damage. Certain houses remained seemingly untouched while other ones were demolished. Brand new builds were thrown off their foundations while older homes survived the blast. What made the difference? The strength of their foundation.

              I am a rule follower. Even though I admire some of the noise makers, when it comes right down to it, I do my best to follow the rules and authorities in place.  Sadly, though, rule following led to many years of people pleasing, and people pleasing turned me into a “yes” person. Even when I was stretched too thin, if anyone asked me to help, lead, or do, I always said yes. Self-created guilt kept me stuck in this pattern and after a while, I hated what I was doing.

I taught Sunday school, led the children’s choir, directed Vacation Bible School, and went on mission trips—all really good things. But at the end of the day, I felt weary, obligated, frustrated, and overwhelmed. That wasn’t supposed to be the outcome; I was supposed to be filled with love, joy, hope, and excitement as I served God.

So, what in the world happened? Why were my results so different from the other people I saw serving in the church? While they felt fulfilled and excited, I dreaded everything I was committed to. We were doing the same jobs. What went wrong?

              It all comes down to the foundation. Those people who felt joy in serving, volunteering, and leading were doing those things from a foundation built on Jesus. They said yes to those positions because they felt called to them and earnestly desired to make a difference. These people were reliant upon God for their strength and measured their success with his measuring rod.

              But for me, I did those things because I was expected to. I desired to be the best Christian and seen as wholeheartedly committed to an abundance of wonderful things. Every yes increased my position and reputation. Each new commitment showed how much I could be respected and trusted as a Christ follower. Everyone would know how devout I was; and no one had to know how miserable I felt. My foundation was not Jesus; my foundation was people pleasing.

              When our foundation is anything other than Jesus, we become selfishly motivated and “attaboy” driven. My actions can be exactly the same as the next person, but if I’m doing it from the wrong heart, what is produced in my life and heart won’t be Holy Spirit fruit. Motives matter. Our foundation matters. Just like the houses at the coast that were swept away by the hurricanes, so will we be swept away if we continue going through the motions of life without examining our heart. People pleasing is not the right motive. Saying yes because it’s expected isn’t the right motive. Any reason other than Jesus isn’t the right motive.

Scripture Reading:

Read Genesis 25:24-31 (ESV)

When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Discussion

1.      Discuss the various motives of the people in this passage.

2.      Why is our motivation so important?

3.      What is your motivation for being a classroom teacher?

4.      What happens when motives get out of line? Discuss.

Homework

              Read Matthew 23. What was the motivation of the Pharisees in the time of Jesus?

Personal Reflection

              Spend some time, just you and God, and ask him to examine your heart. What are your reasons for getting up every day and going to work? Teaching? What motivates your existence? If it’s anything other than Jesus, it’s time to dig a bit deeper.