What Motivates You

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 11:48, ” If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation. “

Background

There are several schools of thought where motivation is concerned. One famous theory is called Mazlow’s Hierarchy. It is represented by a pyramid with five sections, the bottom being Physiological Needs and the top one labeled Self-Actualization. Mazlow claimed that we are first motivated by our physiological needs, those such as food and shelter. Once those have been met, we are driven to meet our need for safety, and then social needs, esteem, and finally self-actualization. He believed that each of us has a strong desire to realize our full potential, but there are other needs that must be met before that is possible. Another theory is called Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory. His model had two categories, Extrinsic and Intrinsic.

Application

You will have a reason for everything you do today, as well as those things you choose to not do. But will you consider the reasons behind your choices? Are you even aware of why you are doing the things you are doing? I would say that there is a good chance that much of what you will do will be for reasons that could use a little tweaking. Some will be to avoid a negative and others will be to produce a positive, but many of those will have self in the driver’s seat. And many times it’s not intentional, but rather the way we have been doing and thinking for so long. But now it’s time to say so long to so long. Of the precious years we have on this earth, the biggest fire awaits for all those spent on ourselves. Nothing gets less of a return on its investment than that which is done for our own purposes. When Jesus said the first shall be last, He knew what He was talking about.

Charge

As we seek Him today, examine your motivation as you make your choices and live out your day.