The Compelling Motivation

Perhaps one of the most difficult things that we deal with as Christians is the battle between our flesh and it’s desire to sin, and the command(s) that we have from God that tell us not to sin. We all want to do right, to live righteously. We start out on the right track. But over time many experience weariness in doing good. The constant temptations from the world wear them down. They find themselves giving in to sin. A cycle starts of giving in to sin, feeling terrible, repenting and doing good for a while, but then falling back into the same sin again.

In the current epistle of 1 John, we have several verses that tell us:

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. 1 John 2:1

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9

We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; 1 John 5:18

Paul echoes this truth:

Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; 1 Cor 15:34

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, Eph 4:1

...that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Col 1:9-10

...that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thess 2:12

This doctrine originates in God’s commandment to the Israelites in the desert:

And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine. Lev 20:26

Taking the word of God as a whole, we easily come to the conclusion that there is a clear expectation that the true believer in Jesus Christ would seek to live a life free from sin. That we Christians should not allow sin to be a part of our life. We should not knowingly sin.

But – ‘knowingly sin’ is exactly what we do. I would have to say that 95% of the sin that I have committed as a Christian was done with the full knowledge that I was sinning (no doubt all of it many years ago!!! ha ha!). I can rationalize it to others, but deep in my heart I know that I chose to sin before I actually sinned! It was willing participation.

Certainly there is the 5% of the time where we do or say something, and in the moment, we do not realize on a conscious level that it is sin. But I am not addressing that here.

I am talking about that moment in time when you are about to make a decision whether to lie, or take something that is not yours, or indulge in some sinful pleasure. That moment in time that you are at the crossroads of making a decision.

Have you ever thought about this: What is it that makes the difference between choosing the sin, or choosing to not sin? What will make us choose life?

From what I can see of human motivation, there are a number of reasons that people choose to not sin. Here are a few of note:

1) Sometimes it is fear of getting caught. We weigh the likelihood of our sin being discovered, determine it is likely we could be exposed, and we choose to refrain. We don’t want anyone to see that we are sinful. We might lose our position among our Christian peers, or a ministry role. Protection of our “good reputation” important to us. There is also the “God is watching” factor!

2) Sometimes it is fear of the consequences. This is similar, but more of focus on “not wanting to pay the price”. Sort of like an alcoholic who wants to drink, but knows that every time he does he ends up getting arrested of wrecking his car, etc.

3) Sometimes it is an adherence to the law. We know that the law of God says it is wrong, so out of respect and duty, we make the right choice. We do it because “we are supposed to”.

All of us have probably made choices based on one of these reasons a time or two. And, truth be told, they all work – for a while. But after a while, the temptations of the world and its pleasures win out. Or we end up alone where no one will find out. Or we rationalize that “doing it just once wont be that bad.”

What these reasons really lack is a compelling motivation to continue in our walk with the Lord for a lifetime. And John hits dead center of this compelling motivation with his statement “...and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). I believe that only a fellowship relationship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ will compel us to walk in his ways for a lifetime, not just for a while.

To give you an illustration: If I were given an opportunity to have an extramarital affair, what would cause me to choose to say no? I could use one of the three reasons I listed above. But in honesty, given the right time or situation, each of those reasons has a flaw.
That flaw is this: The fundamental principle that supports the reason centers around ME and my standing, or my duty. This gives me the option that if I decide to allow my standing or position or duty to be altered, I can change the logic.

So let’s explore a fourth reason:

1) I have a relationship with my wife, and this relationship is extremely valuable to me. I would not want to jeopardize that relationship in any way. I would not want to do anything that would negatively affect my relationship with my wife.

2) I love my wife. I know that an extramarital affair would hurt her deeply, and because I love her, I would not want to hurt her in any way.

3) Because I love my wife deeply, I have no desire to be with any other women.

BOTTOM LINE: My love and relationship with my wife, and her position in my life, are infinitely more important to me than a few hours of pleasure with another person.

Now if we were talking about marital relationships, I could go much deeper into my reasons, but lets think in terms of our fellowship relationship with God, and how sin affects that relationship.

1) Sin, especially continued, unrepentant sin, breaks our fellowship with God. He does not change or go away, we do. It causes us to pull away from God.

QUESTION: How important is my fellowship relationship with God? Is it important enough that when I am tempted to sin, that I will choose righteousness because I don’t want to quench the Spirit of God, and impede my relationship with Him?

2) Sin grieves the Spirit of God. Eph 4:30 tells us “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Its not that God is hurt BY us, but He grieves FOR US. He knows the wages of sin; He knows the repercussions that will come as a result of sin.

QUESTION: Am I sensitive to the fact that the Spirit of God dwells in me (1 Cor 3:16)? Do I understand that what I look upon, partake in, speak; even think in my mind, I am also exposing the Spirit of God to?

3) God loves us more than we can ever imagine. We say it all the time, but I think that we do not even scratch the surface in realizing the extent of His love for us. And even what we do know is supernatural impartation. Paul prayed for his fellow Christians: “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph 3:17-19

QUESTION: Is His love for me foremost in my mind? Do I consider the price which He paid to have the relationship we have? Have I responded to His love by opening my heart to Him? Do I value my love relationship with God more than I value a brief moment of pleasure, or gain?

BOTTOM LINE: I believe that if we see our relationship as one guided by our membership in a church, or being a part of a group, or following the law, then we will be one of those who grow weary of doing good, tossed about through life.

But if we realize, as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, the depth and height of God’s love for us, and if we open our hearts to a fellowship relationship with Him, we can experience the compelling motivation to live for God. A motivation that does not dim with time. That we might be filled with all the fullness of God!

comments??

Pastor Clay