What are you driven by?
Everyone is driven by something. There’s a thing inside the heart of every person that drives us. It’s what wakes us up in the morning. It’s what gnaws at our conscience at night. It’s what helps or hinders our relationships. There is a driving factor behind every decision we make which results in the actions we take as well. So what is it that drives you?
Is it money?
I’ve been in very close proximity with people who were greedy. It seemed every thought and action was driven by how much money they could make and what they could get from people. If your driving factor is money… newsflash… it has no eternal value. As a matter of fact, Jesus talked more about the idol of money than almost any other thing that could sit on your heart. Money is a great servant but a terrible master. Money is never satisfied. You’ll never have enough money… if money is your driving factor.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
Is it sex?
This is another driving factor that I’ve seen in the lives of many people after pastoring for some time now. Sex, whether we’d like to admit it or not, drives the lives of many people because at it’s core is a deep longing to feel loved and accepted. So, people engage in sex but what they truly crave is intimacy. The problem is we are trying to solve a spiritual problem with a physical solution. No matter how much sex or food or whatever you feed that appetite, it will never be fully and finally satisfied.
Is it power?
Power means we can exercise control over people. It means that we get to be in charge. Power can go to your head real quick. I love what Abraham Lincoln said: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Power that isn’t checked by the fruit of the Spirit leads to pride and arrogance. Every destructive sin is birthed out of pride.
The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, But the idols will completely vanish. -Isaiah 2:17-18 (NASB)
Is it fear?
Fear drives the lives of many people without them even knowing it. Fear is so subtle that it works it’s way into every part of our life. Think about the reasons why we don’t do certain things. “I don’t want to step into this new ______________ because I’m not sure it will work out.” Fear can paralyze us to respond to God in faith. Taking a risk is a huge part of faith. Sometimes we disguise fear as “wisdom” thinking that we are being so “spiritual” but in fact we are in disobedience to what God has asked of us.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. -Hebrews 10:38 (KJV)
Is it a relationship?
Many people are living everyday for a relationship. They get so focused on the person God may have given them that they forget to focus on God! Relationships can take the place of God so quickly because we spend our time trying to please this other person instead of pleasing the Lord. Unfortunately, this results in a co-dependent relationship and God wants our dependance on Him, not another created being.
What about being driven by faith?
Let’s take it a step further… what about being driven by eternity?
What a sobering thought. The actions we take on this earth may echo in the halls of eternity. What if we woke up everyday with eternity on our mind? How different our lives would be! We would look at life from an eternal perspective! I wrote a post on this subject a while back.
What drives you is what propels your life. Your motives are the fuel for your actions. If we get this fruit of the Spirit deep down in our souls then our lives will be driven by the Spirit of God. That’s where I want to be. I desperately want to be driven by God in my thoughts and actions. I’m not there yet but I do move towards that goal through intentional growth and time with God.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. -Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
I think about our ultimate example… Jesus. What was His drive? What motivated Him? You and I.
Jesus was driven by love. Love drove nails threw his hands and feet! Love drove Jesus to the cross! It was love that made a way for us when there was no way. LOVE is the ultimate motivator. We weren’t created to do anything for God. God doesn’t need our help. We were created to be loved by God. Everything we do is a response to this great love! At the end of my life, I want to be known as a person who was driven by eternity and love is what people felt when they were around me.
How about you? What is your driving factor?