Can I ask you a question this morning, my Facebook friends?

Why do you what you do?
Why will you get up and go to work this morning?
Why will you pray today?
Why will you post or repost on Facebook?
Why will you do laundry, wash dishes, make beds?
Why do you vote for a particular candidate?
Why do you go (or not go) to church?
Why do we do, whatever it is, what we do?

God is challenging my motives lately? Not my desires but my motives? Why do I write? Why do I teach? Why do I preach the gospel? What is my why?

I was thinking about the Apostle Paul this morning as I read his words. He is the most famous writers and teachers of all time. Paul was not waiting for someone to invite him to speak or for a book deal. He didn’t care if what he said offended others (not that he was purposefully controversial). He was beaten, shipwrecked, jailed, exiled. Yet in all of that, he still wrote and spoke truth.

Why?

Because of love. Paul encourages us to do ALL THINGS in love.

If you are going to work simply for a paycheck, change your attitude. Go to work because you love your family. Because you love to be generous. Because you love to vacation.

If you are cleaning the house out of drudgery, flip the narrative. Clean your house because you love your family, you love the way your house looks when it’s clean. Clean your house so you can be hospitable to others.

Do everything IN love.

When you pray, be motivated by love not fear.
When you give, be motivated by altruism not guilt.
When you post on Facebook, be motivated to spread goodwill not strife.

When LOVE becomes our motivator,
Joy becomes our reward.
The need to please others dissipates.
Fear vanishes.
Productivity increases.
Freedom reigns.

Let’s heed Paul’s exhortation. Let’s follow his example. Like Paul, let love become our why this morning. Let’s do everything IN love.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬