Friday
Jan192007
motives
Friday, January 19, 2007 at 09:04AM "It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive is everything."
A.W. Tozer
Lord, reach down deep into my motives. Soften my heart and quinch any vain ambition.
Reader Comments (2)
The quote you posted touched me deeply. And I had to write a prayer in response to it. I don't know why, but I just felt compelled to share it. Forgive me if I'm responding to an over-active sense of ought-ness.
"Oh God, why do I write? Why do I labor over a passage, study these movies for Ephesians and wrestle with a deadline?? Why God, oh Why? You alone know my heart. You know that it’s difficult for me to write for a reader whom I do not know. So I must say, I do not write for the reader. You know the money is not a motivator. If anything, I’m tempted to get a job at Starbucks so I can make more money. (How sad is that?) You know fame is not the motivation. I’ve realized that the hard way. The publishing industry is not necessarily the path to infamy.
Lord, I write because I must. I write because of what you told me to do in Rev. 1:17 & 19. “Do not be afraid . . . write.” Oh God, sometimes this calling is painful. In fact, it’s often painful. Sometimes it’s gratifying and other times it’s most unpleasant. But I write, because you tell me to.
I’m sorry if that’s not a righteous reason. Perhaps I am to write for love of my audience and love for your Word. And while I feel those emotions do exist within me, they are not my motivators. If they are to be, then please change my heart and let me write for those noble causes. But for now, please know that I write out of a motivation of obedience. You say, “to obey is better than sacrifice,” so I pray that my obedience would please you today and that this work you have called me to do would become a sacred form of worship to you."