Christian Living
Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday February 28, 2007
I was talking with a dear man the other day that is so happy that he can motivate others, and I am happy for him, for the motivating of others is a rare ability and the market place pays handsomely for such talent. I have known many of the best motivators of the Twentieth Century and a few of this century. They are worth their weight in gold, and most of them know it!
In the Lord's work there is always the question as to whether or not it is good to have man who motivates people, or to teach people a better way. You see, it is important for people to be motivated, else nothing of lasting value is accomplished. We all make fun of the unmotivated bumpkin who "wouldnt pick up a stick and hit a snake if it was attacking the children." Some sort of motivation is definitely needed here! I toured a church the other day and my presence was unannounced. As I talked with the pastor about bulletin boards that were months out of date, a sign that according to the janitor had not been changed in several weeks, pardon me, The Environmental Engineer, who by the way could use a little motivation, the weary, and I might add good Bible teaching pastor sighed as he said, "Brother Lilly, I have failed to motivate the people here and I am thinking strongly about leaving for a pastorate in Florida." The temperature was near zero and I also was thinking about leaving for Florida!
I told the dear man whom I deeply respect that as long as he took responsibility for the people not being motivated the church would always be in the failure mode, for when a person is motivated by another, the motivation depends on the highs and lows of the person who is doing the motivating. And we are all human!
Andrew Carnegie, considered wildly successful in anybody's book said:
"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents."
Motivate themselves!
What a novel idea!! I am thankful for those of us who can temporarily motivate others, but I am more thankful that I am personally motivated by a much stronger person than Norman Vincent Peale, Zig Ziglar, or any of the gurus around today. Many would say that Larry is self motivated. This is not true. But the motivating power in my life is not based on same fad or the latest goobledegook. Here is the power of my motivation:
2 Corinthians 5:14 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"
I am not emphasizing our identification with Christ, but the power of Christ and the love He enables me to have for him. The word, constraineth, is loaded with meaning, one aspect being, "to compel." Yep, the love of Christ compels and propels me to get with life and enjoy.
Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit
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