Motives That MatterPrøve

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 New International Version

It was the end of the fiscal year—time to submit an inventory of the good work I had accomplished so my boss could evaluate my performance and reward me accordingly. I expected to receive a sizable monetary award; after all, I had worked hard that year. When my prediction came true two months later, I felt conviction instead of excitement. It was then that I realized I had been pursuing the wrong thing.

Since the mid-1900s, when performance management systems rose in popularity, employers have dangled carrots in the form of annual awards to inspire workplace excellence. From a business standpoint, it makes perfect sense—the benefits of a pay-for-performance system are proven to outweigh the cost. But does this philosophy align with Scripture?

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8 that we are saved by grace through faith. Therefore, unlike the secular business world, where we are rewarded for our good works, salvation is not directly tied to them; rather, our good works are the consequence of salvation, not the justification. Just as employers expect employees to do good work, God also expects that of believers. In this sense, good works are acts of kindness, charity, love, and obedience to God. They are actions that benefit the lives of others. It is important to note that good works are not first-class tickets to Heaven.

I love the last portion of today’s Scripture that says our good works were prepared in advance. This means we have a purpose and are given special assignments! When God created us, He sprinkled in gifts, talents, and special abilities. He poured into our spirits unique mixtures of personality, character, creativity, and desire. We have everything we need to be successful; we are equipped for the good works God has assigned. Why, then, did I feel convicted when I received my performance award? The answer is simple. While I used my gifts and talents to perform, and others benefited from my work, I excelled strictly out of selfish ambition. My conviction was God’s way of redirecting me to His honor for the good work I was doing.

When our motives are rooted in love, selflessness, and a desire to honor God, our actions can bear rich spiritual fruit. Join me tomorrow as we dive into the subject of motives and uncover the wisdom that the Scriptures provide for cultivating hearts and intentions that are aligned with God’s purpose.