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3. Check Your Motivation
The next step to finding out if we’re lined up with God’s plan for our leadership career is to check our motivation.
Motivation is a powerful force, and like emotions sometimes do it can impair our judgment.
Let’s start by having a look at what the Bible says about motivation:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Do you see what this passage is saying?
No selfish ambition. Humility. Others are more important than you. Look to the interest of others, not your own.
Wow!! How opposite of the world’s view is that? But the Bible already alerted us to that difference, didn’t it?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2
And, remember how Jesus tells his disciples about how His Way differed from that of the world?
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:25-28
Sadly, our work culture and the leadership mantras that we hear today are rather different from this, aren’t they? Goals, growth, pay, promotion, and power are primary, not service to others!
Let’s be honest. When you receive an offer of more money or a higher position, the Christian response is often to see this as an “opportunity presented by God” as if opportunities from God have to do with pay, promotion, and the like.
Now, don’t get me wrong, God may want to give you that opportunity even if it does come with those things but many times, these things that look and sound good to the world do not “bless us” into a closer relationship with God – just the opposite.
From God’s perspective, He wants is a closer relationship with you, and to be able to use you through that relationship to help build His Kingdom here on earth, not yours.
Remember the first line of the Lords’ Prayer?
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven – Matthew 6:10 NKJV
One more time. God’s blessings for you and your life’s goals are about you helping build God’s Kingdom, not Him helping build yours.
Now back to your leadership decisions. How do you decide?
In the context of what Jesus taught and the few Bible passages that we just looked at, it should be clear what your motivation should be. Not achievements, promotions, or even career opportunity, but how you might grow in your relationship with God and help build His Kingdom, working for Him and His glory, not yours.
Just as the Bible tells us:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. – Colossians 3:23
As you seek to find God’s will for your leadership and career, start by looking at how your choice brings glory to God and how it might help build His Kingdom.
And, if that’s just a bit too abstract for you, then ask yourself this question to help orient your thoughts to God’s plan:
“Does my choice bring more glory to God and His Kingdom or to me and my career?”
Reflection / Application
- Think about the last time you made a significant career change or decision. What was your motivation behind that change or decision?
- If you were asked to describe how your last change or decision glorified God or helped build His Kingdom, what would you say?
- As you think about your plans for the years ahead, how can you better include glorifying God or building His Kingdom in your leadership?
About this Plan
As leaders, we are accustomed to making decisions, even when data is scarce. Such ability sometimes translates into thinking we may know God’s will for our leadership, also in the absence of adequate data. In these readings, we look at what God’s will for your leadership is, and more importantly, how you can know that you are fulfilling your calling in accordance with His Plan, not just yours.
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