Why do we do what we do? There are lots of scientific and philosophical starting points for answering that question and forces that are eager to answer it. Are we the sum total of our genetics, essentially predetermined by our DNA to do the things we do even down to our personality? Or is it behavioral, how we are raised and what we see modeled that imprints patterns on us that we rarely deviate from? There are some things worth paying attention to from both of those perspectives, but I hope our faith is a primary and central informant of asking the question why we do what we do. The motivation for anything we do is worth looking at and we should look with a lens of faith. In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul laments that he often doesn’t do the good he wishes he would but keeps doing the evil he hates but does anyway. He’s not alone, and he knows it! Clearly we need more than just a good example. Knowing that Jesus died on the cross selflessly and sacrificially doesn’t turn us into saints. We need good examples, but we need more than that. We still need a Savior, and we need to not reduce Jesus to just a good example (though he is the best example!). Why did David and the Israelites do what they did in 1 Chronicles 29? They’ve brought together hundreds of tons of gold and silver and bronze for the temple, an amazingly successful capital campaign! But what was the motivation? If it were to have a nicer temple than their pagan neighbors, David could have motivated via vanity. If it were to set up his son Solomon well for his future task, it would be a dynasty elite project. If it were to cover up or make up for his sins of adultery and murder with Bathsheeba and Uriah, it would’ve been an insufficient cover-up. But David’s prayer makes a thesis statement of his motivation: to bring glory to God! He is giving with integrity and honest intent; he is giving his own riches and the people’s; he is noting that everything they give God already has come from the hand of the Lord. The motivation, the “why do we do what we do?” in this scenario is to bring glory to God and to praise his name! I hope that is our motivation as well. How true is that in your life? To what degree would you agree or regrettably disagree that your life and priorities are designed to bring glory to Jesus? His is the kingdom, the power, and the glory–as you might notice, some of the language Jesus uses in the Lord’s Prayer is common to 1 Chronicles 29. I hope our motivation of why we do what we do also has a focal point on bringing glory and honor to Jesus in how we live. I’d like to add a word of caution when seeking to address areas of our life that aren’t bringing glory to Jesus. We are tempted to just “try harder” and that might not yield the true motivation. Take a look at David: he’s inspired by what God has done in his life. So before you berate yourself for failure, thinking that will help, perhaps first look around at Creation and have some awe and wonder at the Creator’s handiwork. If God can take light, air, earth and water and turn it into majestic mountains, tranquil beaches, and gorgeous sunsets, imagine what he can do with your life! Let awe and wonder help motivate you to bring glory to God. - Pastor Steven