"Why Do I Do What I Do?"

As we begin to discuss what it means to be spiritual, we will begin by looking at our motives. There are positive and negative motives for serving God. Paul gives four positive motives: Obligation, Obedience, Faith and Love.

Why Do I Do What I Do?

(2 Cor. 5:11-15)

Introduction:

A.  There are popular crime shows on TV and with most crime shows you start with the question of motive.  Why did the thief, killer, or whoever, do what they did?

B.   When you seek to examine another person’s motive it becomes difficult because we don’t know the heart of the person.  So what we have to do is listen to their words and examine their actions.  Then we can begin to piece together the motive.  Some want to know what’s in it for them?  God says that is they way Israel acts in the book of Malachi.  The motive to serve is to get served.  Not completely wrong.  Jesus taught that we should do unto others as we would have them to unto us.  But giving only to get seems to lack purity and holiness.  It lacks God at work in us.

C.  The Pharisees often had an ulterior motive for their worship, giving, and praying.  Jesus tells us that they did these things “to be seen by men.”  Thus they had their reward.

D.  Paul wants us to think spiritually, not carnally.  God wants our hearts to serve him because of desire more than just duty. So Paul talks about his personal ministry of reconciliation and begins by saying, “Since we know what it is fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.”  Paul says “I know the options, the choices, and I want people to know God and be in union with him.  In fact, the reason Paul does what he does, “Christ’s love compels him.”  As we being a journey of become spiritually minded people, let’s start with four spiritual reasons for serving God.

I.  Obligation

A.  Let’s start in Rom. 1:11-15.  Paul longs to see these Christians because he desires to impart a spiritual blessing or gift to them.  This spiritual gift desires to strength them and by mutual edification of faith both Paul and the Romans will be strengthened.

B.  He knew that some questioned why he had not arrived in Rome and maybe even questioned his motive.  He wanted to put that to rest by stating that he is acting out of obligation.  Obligation is often view negatively, but not by Paul.  Rom. 8:12

C.  This word means “debtor.”  It can be used in the traditional sense of owing something to someone, or more figuratively in being under obligation to someone.  Paul talks about being obligated to the Greek and being obligated to the Spirit.  A spiritually minded person considers their obligation.  Have you ever heard the phrase “noblesse oblige?”  It is French for the “Nobility is an obligation.”  The idea is that those who “have” need to be benevolent to those who “have not.”  Have you been saved by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus and the power of the HS?  If you answer “yes” then you have an spiritual obligation to live by that salvation.  To keep in step with the Spirit and to share truth.  Not so much a call of duty, but of a desire to thank God for what he has given you and blessed you by sharing that blessing with others.

II.  Obedience

A.  A second reason we do what we do is because we desire to be obedient to God’s commands.  Again, a person can make this solely duty, but I don’t believe that is how Peter and John felt.  Remember in Acts when Peter and John see this crippled beggar outside the temple and they heal him?  They are asked by the rulers and elders, “By what power or what name did you do this?”  These men tell about Jesus and how he was rejected by the rulers and elders.  They are told to not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.  Now look at their response (Acts 4:19-20).  Who should we obey, God or man?  It was a rhetorical question.  The answer to these religious leaders was obvious, God is the one to obey.

B.  Sometimes I do what I do because it is the right thing to do.  God didn’t ask me to vote on it, like it, or take a poll to see how it plays in Peoria.  He told me to do it.  Therefore, I do it.  That is obedience from a spiritual perspective.

C.  I love the way Paul says in Rom. 6:15-18.  Obedience is not an option, the option is whether you obey God or obey Satan.  Sin will give you death, but obedience to God leads to righteousness and freedom.  Spiritual people respond out of obedience.

III.  Faith

A.  A third reason we do what we do is because of our faith.  Faith is a part of our whole life.  It is what we believe at the core of our being.  It is why we do what we do when it doesn’t always make sense to do it.  Several times when Jesus healed a person he would say to the, “Your faith has healed you.” It was not simply a mind game that caused them to be made whole, but they responded to Jesus because they believed in who he was.

B.  The entire 11th chapter of Hebrews is dedicated to what it means to live by faith.  It starts by defining faith as a conviction in the unseen.  It tells us that without faith we cannot please God.  But throughout the chapter we read of men and women who did what they did because of their faith.  By faith Abraham was looking forward to a city built by God.  By faith Moses was looking forward to his reward.  All of these people, spiritual people, lived by faith.

C.  Sometimes I am obligated to do something because of all that God has done for me.  Sometimes I do something because God has told me to and it is the right thing to do.  But sometimes I do something because it is simply by faith that it is God’s will.  I may not have all the concrete evidence of a command, but I believe from all I understand of God that this action is His will for my life.

IV.  Love

A.  The last spiritual reason I want to share today is that of love.  It is really where we started.  In our reading in 2 Cor. 5, Paul said that “Christ’s love compels me.”  We do good to all men, but especially to the household of faith because we love each other as family.  Love compels us into action.  Eph 5:1-2 says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” When Paul appeals to Philemon tells him, “Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.”

B.  Spiritual people respond out of love because they have come to appreciate the love that God has for them.  When they have received that type of love, they desire to act out of love themselves.  It is a spiritual response to determining what a person should do.

Conclusion:

A.  So why do spiritual people do what they do?  Sometimes it is out of obligation for all that God has done for them.  Sometimes it is out of obedience to doing what is right no matter what.  Sometimes it a response of faith that leads them and sometimes it is a response of love that compels them.  Each response is a spiritual reason for the godly behavior of Christian people.

B.  So why do you do what you do?  As God’s chosen people we respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  We open ourselves up and seek to see through spiritual eyes and hear through spiritual ears.  Over the next few weeks we will examine more close what it means to be spiritual.

C.  Today, we offer an opportunity to respond to prompting of God’s Spirit.  If you are in need of prayers, repentance or support and desire for us to surround you and walk beside you, then please come as we stand and sing.