MOTIVATION FOR THE LONG HAUL

So send I you to labor unrewarded,

To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,

To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing,

So send I you to toil for me alone.

As much as we might admire the courage of that hymn, we ought to question its biblical realism. To labor alone, without reward or encouragement, is more the theology of the High Plains drifter than the biblical Christian. Jesus, Paul, Titus, Timothy, Elijah, Moses, Joshua—to name a few—needed support. They found it in their common life with others of the same vision.

Examining the New Testament, it becomes obvious that God designed the church to insure a context of support. Yes, there are exceptions, and some callings are more lonely and difficult than others, but loneliness and futility are not the earmarks of the Holy Spirit’s power through us. What makes us think we can maintain a high level of motivation all alone when God did not design either individuals or the church for that purpose?

When planning to launch a ministry, either in the local church or overseas, we do well to ask: Who supports me? Who has affirmed my gift for this ministry? Who has urged me to go in this direction ? Who is willing to go with me? Who will guard me against myself?

The fastest way to burn out is to tackle a tough task alone. Though you may survive the gauntlet, rarely will vibrancy or creativity remain intact.

The following are some practical building blocks from which to construct a motivation foundation.

1. Invest in an affirmative outlook. Like love, motivation needs to be given away before it can be received. Practice giving confidence and support to those around you. Begin with your family. Too often, especially with our children, we develop a degenerative spiral of griping and fault finding. This is cancerous to the freedom of the Spirit. Far from motivation, this produces the “exasperation” in children mentioned in Ephesians 6. Nor do radiant wives or respected husbands come from a context riddled with criticism. Break this cycle, whether in the family or in the ministry, by catching people doing something right and rewarding them for it. Invest in an affirmative outlook, and the greatest educational force known to humanity—imitation—will be unleashed.

2. Fuel the fire with like-minded people. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). There is something gregarious about human beings who are excited about something. They form clubs: T-bird clubs, motorcycle clubs, cross-stitch clubs, chess clubs, computer clubs, photography clubs, ad infinitum. When motivated by an idea or project, people publish newsletters, form societies, and write books. They do it for the most frivolous causes—as perennial as a suntan, as trendy as a Cabbage Patch. The point is. God has designed us to seek out like-minded people and share our experiences. For the greatest cause on earth—the gospel—have you become known and supported by a smallgroup, a fellowship of pastors, a periodic meeting of colleagues? Have you participated in a timely seminar, attended a retreat, or formed a ministry team?

Ministry was never meant to be sustained on the sheer abundance of its content. Dumping more data on weary Christian workers does not encourage but defeats them. What is usually needed is the sharpening challenge of another colleague. In the context of cohorts, we can sustain ourselves through the “flat” times and learn from others’ failures and successes. Experience may be the best teacher, but it is also the slowest and most severe. What we gain from like-minded friends is not just truth but fuel for the journey.

3. Clear up conflicts quickly. Nothing is more destructive to drive and purpose than the grit and friction of conflict. The most consuming mental quagmire is an unresolved personal problem. Conflict saps energy, stifles freedom, and undermines motivation. Deal with conflict quickly, especially if it involves you personally, by repentance or forgiveness, so freedom can return to your life.

4. Be alert to deficit motivators. Be careful that your own enterprise is not being fueled by the wrong motivation. Guilt is a deficit motivator—it fuels a hundred-yard dash but not a marathon. The same is true of anger. Though God may instill righteous anger for a time, it too runs us into oxygen debt if it does not yield to biblical motivation. The anger of man does not bring about the righteousness of God. Beware of a crusading spirit on a single issue, which may leave you wasted and gasping. Fear is a close cousin to guilt and anger. Fear of failure is not sufficient reason to take on difficult tasks long-term. Face your inadequacies and avoid trying to prove to the watching world that you are omnicompetent.

5. Get your hands on front-line issues. Involvement in corporate and private prayer is front-line spiritual warfare. So is personally sharing our faith with a nonbelieving friend. Nothing fuels our lives like direct involvement in the basic spiritual issues. Stay close to evangelism as a lifelong endeavor. Keep your hands in the reproductive process of making disciples. Remember that the kingdom of God is in the hearts of men and women, and stay close to that noble work.