During a recent meal, my son asked me how I endure all the traveling and hotels in our long ministry trips.

He had just been on a missions trip to Honduras, and knew the rigors. I told him I didn’t especially enjoy all the long flights and living out of a suitcase. But our mission compelled me. When I saw God’s favor in the great fruitfulness of our trips, and the many lives that were impacted, it gave me both great joy and endurance.

The apostle Paul was beaten for his faith many times, shipwrecked, chased away to other towns and much more. It makes our sacrifices look like inconveniences. But what motivated Paul? Listen to both versions of this verse:

“For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, …” II Corinthians 5:13-14 NKJV

“If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.” 2 Corinthians 5:11-14 MSG

So we must all answer this question

seriously. What motivates us?

If envying our neighbors motivates us, then remember this. About the time we catch up with our neighbors, they refinance! In other words, it’s a loser’s game to find your worth trying to be like others.

“Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:4 NLT

But if you are motivated by hearing God’s voice and then obeying it, you will embark on the adventure of a lifetime! This is where we find our greatest fulfillment!

Don’t follow your heart, because it is deceitful. But make God your heart-throb!

So how do we turn our fleshly motivations towards God? We die to ourselves daily. Yes, daily. In our flesh dwells no good thing, so we ask God to change our heart to be like His heart. We ask for His tears to fill our eyes. We ask for His love to compel us. We treasure His word more than gold. And as we delight ourselves in knowing Him, He then gives us the real desires of our heart. (Psalm 37:4)

We soon move away from a earthly, stress-filled rat-race. Instead He becomes the leader and driver in our life, and thus we begin a peace-filled and soul-fulfilling journey.

Don’t fall for the glittering lies of this world. Not all that glitters is golden. Instead, set your mind on things above, and lay up eternal treasures in heaven. Love God and love people. It’s what we were made for!