“Motives That Move Us”
2 Corinthians 5:1-21
INTRO. In our text, the Apostle Paul is answering the accusations of his enemies con-
cerning his ministry. He wants them to know that his ministry is serious, not
careless; that he works from honest motives and not from fleshly desires.
Paul explains four motives that control his life and his ministry. What is a
motive? The dictionary describes it as “a conscious or unconscious need,
drive that incites a person to some action or behavior.” Something that we
see lacking in God’s work today is themotivation to serve God.
Without motivation we will never reach the heights that God would have us
to reach for Him. There must be some need or thing we drives us to action.
Someone has said, “The most motivated person on earth is a five-foot, ten-
inch non-swimmer in 6 feet of water” (1). Paul here mentions 4 things that
motivated his life and ministry. It is these four things which should motive us
also. Let us look at these four motivating factors as we think on this subject,
“Motives That Move Us.”
(1) OUR CONFIDENCE OF HEAVEN
2 Corinthians 5:1-8
*Paul was a man of faith. Paul determined in his life to serve God in spite of suf-
fering and even death. Paul lived a life of faith which was not blind trust, but
a certain confidence in the Word of God.
*We must be men and women of faith. We must determine to serve God inspite
of suffering or even death. We must live a life of faith which is not blind trust,
but is certain confidence in theWord of God.
*When you know where you are going, nothing can deter you, frighten you or
no enemy can defeat you. Though outwardly you are perishing, inwardly you
are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). The promise of our
heavenly home gives us the strength we need to go on for God (John 14:1-3).
*Paul here speaks of “a building of God”. He is not referring to the home Christ is
preparing for believers; but it is the glorified body that will be ours when Christ
returns (Phils. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2). This earthly house will be dissolved and we
will be “clothed upon” with our house which is from heaven.
*How do we know we have this glorious future? V5 says, “..who also hath given
unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is that “Eternal down pay-
ment that assures us the rest of the promised blessings will be ours. We are
today “at home in the body but absent from the LORD.” Our desire is to be “at
home with the LORD” and living in glorified bodies that will never change (2).
(2) OUR CONCERN TO PLEASE CHRIST
2 Corinthians 5:9-13
*Paul’s Christian service was motivated by more than hope for the future. He had
a desire to please Christ and be acceptable to Him right now. He says in v9…
“that …we may be accepted of him.” The word accepted here means “well-
pleasing, agreeable.” Paul wanted to be “well-pleasing” to Christ. Every Child
of God should have the same desire, the same motivation as Paul had. To be
well-pleasing to the LORD.
*What motivated Paul to seek to please Christ?:
A. HE REVERENCED GOD (V11). Paul had a healthy fear of theLORD.
He called it terror in v11. The word in the Greek means “godly fear,
reverence.” When we reverence God as we should then we will have
a need and a desire to please Him.
B. HE REALIZED GOD’S JUDGMENT AWAITS ALL (V10). Paul knew that
all believers will one day be judged at Christ’s Judgment seat (1 Corin-
thians 3:10-15; Romans 14:7-12). Paul knowing that his works would
one day be revealed and test, motivated him to live the kind of life
that pleased and honored Christ.
The Greek word for “appear” in v10 means more than “stand” or
“show up.” It carries the idea of being revealed“for we shall all be
shown as we are” is the meaning. There will be no pretending at that
judgment; our character and works will be revealed as they are, and
suitable rewards will be given (3).
While eternal life is a free gift given on thebasis of God’s grace, our
lives will still be judged by Christ. This judgment is for rewards for
how we have lived. Faith does not free us from obedience (4).
(3) OUR CONSTRAINT BECAUSE OF LOVE
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
*In Acts 26:24, Paul had been accused of being mad since he went to the ex-
tremes to win men to Christ. But the motivating power of Paul’s life was the
love of Christ. It was not Paul’s love for Christ that motivated him, but it was
Christ’s love for Paul.
*He was so overwhelmed by Jesus’ love for him that to serve and honor Christ
became the motivating factor of his life. That should be the motive that moves
us also. Think how much He loves us. VVS. 14-17 describe the great love of
Christ that led him to the Cross to die for sinners. Why Did He Die?:
A. That we might live through Him (1 John 4:9). [His] Love explains
(1)why God creates-because He loves, He creates people to love;
(2)why God cares-because He loves them, He cares for sinful people;
(3)why we are free to choose-He wants a loving response from us;
(4)why Christ died-His love for us cause Him to seek a solution to the
problem of sin; and
(5)why we receive eternal life-his love expresses itself to us forever
(5).
- That we might live with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:10). Christ died for
us becauseHe loves us and desire to have eternal fellowship with us!
C. That we might live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15). We are saved for a
reason. God saved us for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10). Charles
Spurgeon said, “He is no Christian who does not seek to serve his
God. The very motto of the Christian should be “I serve” (6).
*One of the various problem that faced the Church at Corinth was that believers
were judging after the flesh (1 Corinthians 4:1-7). Judging after the flesh always
clouds our judgment and deadens our love. Paul was being compared with other
teachers by using carnal judgment instead of spiritual discernment. They were
forgetting that the Christian life is a new creation with new motives and values.
Paul had no doubt known of Christ before His conversion, the Christ he saw then
was according to the flesh, but now Paul saw Him as the glorified LORD. Be-
cause of Paul’s new relationship to Christ, He saw Him differently than he had
before.
*We must have an accurate view of God’s Love for us; so that we might be moti-
vated to live for Him!
(4) OUR COMMISSION FROM GOD
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
*The word COMMISSION means “command or charge.” We, according to v20,
are “ambassadors for Christ” . Our message is one of PEACE: Godhas paid the
price for sin; how has He done this. Look at v18, “who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ…” “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crim-
son stain, He washed it white as snow..”
*Let us consider some facts about ambassadors:
- Ambassadors are chosen. God has chosen us to be His ambassadors
to this world. We do not represent ourselves, but Christ who sent us
(John 15:16). We are not to please self but please Christ and be faith-
ful in the task given us. Our message is the Gospel Christ has commit-
ted to our trust (Mark 16:15).
B. Ambassadors are protected. An ambassador must be a citizen of the
nation he represent. Every child of God is a citizen of Heaven. The
nation supplies their ambassador’s every need and stands ready to
protect them. God protects His people.
- Ambassadors are held accountable. We are heaven’s representatives.
Our message is clear. WE must declare it. And we must realize that
one day we must give an account of ourselves to God. Daniel Webster
was asked, “what is the greatest thoughts that can occupy a man’s
mind?” He said, “His accountability to God” (7).
D. Ambassadors are called home before war is declared. God has not yet
declared war on this wicked world, but one day He will. There is
coming a day of wrath, but God will usher all His children home before
that day comes (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The Church, God’s ambassa-
dors shall not go through the Tribulation.
*The message of the Church is one of reconciliation (vv. 20-21): God by Christ
death on theCross has reconciled the world to Himself and is willing to save who
soever will trust His Son. All believers are ambassadors, whether we accept the
responsibility or not.
CLOSING: What are the “Motives That Move Us”? They are: OUR CONFIDENCE OF
HEAVEN, OUR CONCERN TO PLEASE CHRIST, OUR CONSTRAINT OF LOVE,
and OUR COMMISSION FROM GOD. Why do you serve God Christian? Is
it love or duty?
NOTES: 1. Charles R. Swindoll. The Tale Of The Tardy Oxcart. Pg. 401.
2. Warren W. Wiersbe. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines On the New Testament
Pg. 488.
- Wiersbe. Pg. 488.
- Living Letters From The Life Application Bible. Pg. 88.
- Living Letters. Pg. 267.
- Charles H. Spurgeon. 2200 Quotations From the Writings Of Charles H.
Spurgeon. Pg. 188.
- Swindoll. Pg. 9.