Resources/Articles
Christ's Motive and Ours (1)
Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
The true, genuine test of any action lies in its motive. A lot of deeds have been done with great fanfare, salute, and display with a selfish, immoral intent. Some actions which appear to be poor, measly, and miserable have been full of glory and beauty because the purpose was noble. A great example of this is the two mites given by the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4. The point is, as the mainspring of a watch is the most important part of it, so the mainspring (motive) of our action is everything.
Two texts with two motives is the basis of this message. One is what inspired Christ’s redeeming work. The other motive inspires our service to and for Him.
The first passage is 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (NASB). The emphasis is on “FOR YOUR SAKES...” It is for us Christ gave Himself, to make us rich.
The other scripture is Philippians 1:29: “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (NASB - The same is found in Philippians 3:8). The emphasis here is “FOR HIS SAKE...” What Christ has done, He did all for our sakes. We should then do all we do for His sake. Do not fix your mind on the deed. Fix your mind on the motive.
What you can understand quickly is the less of self in any effort, the nobler it is. It is not the size but the motive. This establishes one solid truth: Selfishness is the worst of all motives for action. The worst kind of selfishness is spiritual selfishness: Godly actions bringing all glory to yourself because you were the one who sacrificed, you were the one who did the teaching, or you were the one who suffered unjustly for doing good works.
With Christ there was no self-seeking. It was not for Himself that He came to earth. It was not for Himself that He suffered. He lived for others’ sakes. He died “for your sakes.” Christ serves not only as our Savior in what He did for our sakes. He is our example for how we should live “for His sake” and truly “follow His steps.”
There is a true story about a man living in a very small town who was greatly misunderstood. It was known he had a large income and lived a miserly life. Murmurers in the town were loud about how little he would help and give to others. This man saved, skimped, and hoarded his money. The man died, and what was felt and known about him was reversed. The motive of all his income came to light. He left his fortune to build a reservoir and an aqueduct to bring a constant supply of pure water to the town where he had been despised and misunderstood. Water was the chief need of the people. For a long time the people in the town suffered from drought and disease because of low water supply. All the years they had misjudged him, he was silently and unselfishly living for their sakes.
When the people of the town discovered his motive and saw the results, it was too late to do anything for him or thank him. All they could do was hand down to future generations the memory of his noble and generous deed and act nobly for others’ sakes.
What wonderful things Christians can do “for His sake,” who has brought to us the living water and has died for us.
What Does “For Your Sake” Mean?
The motive of Jesus came to be witnessed in God sending Him from the glory of heaven to become a suffering, dying man. Jesus took this responsibility. “He thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:6). He made the heavens, earth, and “without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). The angels gave Him reverence. All power was at His control. He needed nothing to make Him glorious. All things were His, and He had the power to make more. He could truly say, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 50:12). Furthermore, twelve legions of angels were at His command. He was known from eternity. It was the good pleasure of His Father, whose love for Him surpasses any love, that He be given birth in a manger, not a purple lined bassinet. The life of a peasant, not in a king’s palace.
There is nothing inferior about Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7). Yet, He came from heaven “for your sakes.” All this speaks volumes. The greatest being, if people expressed all their care for me, and princes of the earth awarded me wealth and honors, it would be a drop in a bucket compared with God regarding my sake in His Son. All the compassion or help of man does not compare to what God sent in Jesus “for your sakes.”
The most baffling part of this is the insignificant clientele (people) on whom all this wealth of affection was poured (2 Corinthians 8:9): Enemies (Romans 5:6); None righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10); Those turning to their own way (Isaiah 53:6). What we deserved, we did not get. Of Jesus it is said, “He died for all, that they that live should not longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who for their sakes died and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). This is the marvelous grace of a loving Lord “for your sakes.”
What now should burn in our hearts is what will we do “for His sake?”
