What’s Your Motivation?

As an 8th grader in a local public school, I was challenged by my shop teacher to participate in a fundraiser to benifit our Technology Education Department through selling items from a catalog they gave each of us. I have to admit that I wasn’t motivated to help until he passed out a smaller catalog with the prizes we could get if we sold a certain amount of items. What was the top prize for selling the most? A Talkboy, as made famous by McCauley Culkin in the movie Home Alone! I know it’s a stretch but this would be the equivalent of an IPad in today’s technology world and the thought of owning one sent envy chills up my spine.

The second I arrived home that day, I picked up the phone and called all of my relatives to reach my goal of being top seller. I had it down pat as I explained that “my heart is to help my school and to make this world a better place through education of young individuals such as myself.” This of course was to get them to buy something so I could get my Talkboy! I then expanded my market by dressing in business attire and petitioning local businesses’ employees that were within walking distance of my house. Next, after filling out multiple order forms, I went door-to-door in my entire town to win more customers. Looking back, I was passionate at making a catalog sale. I was willing to do whatever it took. What was my passion fuel for doing this? The reward!

Just like I needed a passion fuel for selling catalog items, we also need passion fuels for sharing our faith. Here a some of the most prominent passion fuels for sharing the Gospel with others:

Reward in Heaven- Phil. 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Obedience to God- Matt 28:19-20- Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Love for God- 2 Corinthians 5:14- For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
Fear of God- 2 Cor. 5:10-11- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
Reality of Hell- The story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).
Compassion for the Lost- Matt. 9:35-36-Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.