Good Motive Helps Us to Endure

The importance of being motivated by love is seen in another way.  To those who pursue godly devotion out of love, the Bible promises rich blessings now and unimaginably wonderful blessings in the future.  (1 Timothy 4:8) A  Christian who strongly believes these promises and who is convinced that Jehovah "becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him" is helped to stand firm in the faith.  (Hebrews 11:6) Most of us long for the fulfillment of God's promises and echo the sentiment of the apostle John:  "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20) Yes, meditating on the blessings in store if we are faithful strengthens us to endure, just as keeping in mind "the joy that was set before him" helped Jesus to endure. -Hebrews 12:1, 3.

What, though, if our desire to live in the new world is our sole motive for serving Jehovah?  Then we could easily become impatient or dissatisfied when things get difficult or events do not happen as or when we hope. We could be in serious danger of drifting away.  (Hebrews 2:1; 3:12) Paul spoke of a former companion named Demas, who forsook him. Why? Because "he loved the present system of things." ( 2 Timothy 4:10) Any who serve for purely selfish reasons are in danger of doing the same. They could be attracted by the immediate opportunities offered in the world and become unwilling to make sacrifices now in the hope of blessings to come.

While it is proper and natural to have a desire to receive future blessings and hoped for relief from trials, love builds our  appreciation for what should be paramount in our life. It is Jehovah's will, not ours, that is the important thing.  (Luke 22:41, 42) Yes, love builds up. It makes us content to wait patiently upon our God, satisfied with whatever blessings he gives and confident that in his due time we will receive  everything that he has promised-and more. (Psalm 145:16; 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9) In the meantime, love helps us to keep on serving unselfishly because "love-does not look for its own interests."-1 Corinthians 13:4, 5. 

Next time: Whom Should Christians Love?

From the Watchtower magazine, 2001