The email requested: “Please send us a message for our anniversary”. It came from a faith-based organisation I knew well from the Philippines. As I reflected, a few verses quickly leapt to mind, particularly those positive ones that promise reward and success. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9-11 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap…” Luke 6:38. I like those verses!
But as I considered, I also thought about the many secular organisations who do good work. Many of them even do greater work with wider reach to the poor and the needy. Even people who don’t profess any faith believe that we must love and care for people to be able to succeed in what we do.
So what makes Christian organisations any different? Our motivations are always pretty mixed and often a bit more self-oriented that we dare admit. At our best I think it’s about worship – wanting to see God glorified. So I decided to send them the verse “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”. Matthew 5:16.
This week, stop and think:
- Why are you really doing what you are doing? What are your mixed motivations?
- What can we do to refocus our work on glorifying God?
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