The web definition for the word Motivated is: to provide (someone) with a motive for doing something. A motive -is a reason for doing something.
Motives are what stimulates and moves us to action. Motives create motivation, which then, we are motivated to do. The revelation of ones motive can be found to be purely selfless or appallingly selfish.
The Scripture tells us in Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; (NASB)
So what is it exactly that motivates us and what does it motivate us to do?
Let's look at a story in the Bible of a woman who was motivated. As we study this passage of scripture let us carefully analyze what stirred her motivation and what she was motivated to achieve.
(Read 1 Samuel 1)
In the beginning of this story we see Hannah a woman who was harassed but loved, provided for yet lacking. A woman who should have been satisfied but was sorrowfully unfulfilled.
The insults of her oppressor would move her to tears year after year as she would have to look upon the realization of her situation, that even though she had things going for her she didn't have what would make her seem to be on the same level as other Israelite women -a child.
Have you ever looked at a situation, knew that is was real and felt completely helpless, leaving you standing there sobbing in grief, by the taunts of the devil about what you have (a sickness, a financial problem, a troubled child, etc.) or don't have (a spouse, a child, a job, an education, a clear vision and on and on)
Well this was exactly the place where Hannah was. She was so discouraged, that even when her husband blessed her with the portion of food fitting for her, she didn't even want to eat it. I'm sure that she was grateful for what she had been given but deep down inside she knew that there was more. Just like with many of us (believers) we are extremely thankful for life and the things we have, but we know that in some areas of our lives we are not living in the abundance that has been promised to us.
In response to the verbal onslaught Hannah endured, all that she could muster up was tears until one day her sorrow motivated her to move into prayer. She no longer sat in a seat of anguish feeling sorry for herself. She no longer stood there trying to figure out the motive behind the abuse from Peninnah. She didn't open her mouth to answer insult for insult, instead she got up and went and prayed.
Sorrow of heart (a discouraged heart) motivated her to fervent prayer.
It was because of this, she poured out her heart without even speaking. It is also, when we find ourselves in a place of overwhelming attacks that we to must come to realize that -to the oppressor we owe not a word.
I wonder if she would have gotten the same result if she allowed her sorrow to motivate her to act in any other way than what she did.
What was the motive behind Hannah's prayer. Was it to obtain the miracle in order to mock her enemy? Was it to receive from God to stop the pain of feeling unloved by God? In those days children were a sign of being blessed of The Lord (Psalm 128:3-6) and Hannah wanted the tangible assurance that she was blessed and if she had the child her enemy's assaults would be powerless.
Her desire is not much different than many of ours today but God has told us repeatedly in His word that the life of the believer must be that of faith and trust in the face of doubt and fear. We are to know that God loves us not because of the things we receive but because of His faithfulness to His covenant with us and that He will give us what we need according to His will.
I believe her motive was pure because she vowed that if the child was granted her, she would dedicate him to The Lord and His work in the temple. And as we read, we see that Hannah did conceive and perform her vow.
Is there anything that you are motivated to labor in prayer for, not so you can boast but that after you obtain it you can give it as a sacrifice to The Lord? Or are you motivated to pray for it so that you can say "I got it"?
As I come to a close I want to bring out one last thing. Hannah's prayer was so intense that it drew the attention of the priest. He first thought she was drunk until she explained the condition of her heart then he spoke a blessing that God would grant her request. After years of going to the temple and not eating she finally went home, ATE and was NO LONGER SAD. I wonder if we would be satisfied with a word from God even when were not physically holding the blessing yet.
There are a lot of Peninnah's invading our space taunting us in order to provoke the wrong response and we must always remember that it is not people that we are wrestling with but rather the enemy of our soul. Instead of giving into this relentless mental abuse -allow it to motivate you to stand, believe Gods Word, love unconditionally, wait patiently on Him and overcome evil with good.
God was motivated by mankind's fallen state to show His love for us and send His only Son to free us from the bondage of sin and to give an answer to His and man's enemy (the devil) of how He was able to restore His beloved to a right relationship with himself.
What are you motivated by and what are you motivated to do? No matter what incites the motivation, remember to respond in a way that will cause you to be blessed and be a blessing.
