Motivation is a wonderful way to accomplish something we’re reluctant to tackle. I think of how quickly we tidy the house and wipe the most obvious dust when we know visitors are coming.

Fifty years ago, I became motivated to finish a correspondence course. I had been hired to take over a small library in a town in northern British Columbia. Before that job, I had not been a success as a beginning French teacher. Overwhelming odds were against me. The students in this remote corner of the province were not at all interested in learning a foreign language; they could see no relevance in it to their lives. They made life difficult for me, and I lacked the experience to control the large classes and make the lessons appealing. Despite my efforts, I was asked to resign. Having a nice, quiet job in a small library sounded much easier to manage, and would be a welcome reprieve.

At the beginning of the next school year, I slowly began on the course required for my new job. By January, I realized I had to step up my pace. The carrot dangling in front of me? An all-expense-paid week of training for community librarians to be held in June, in our favourite city, Victoria, B.C. The remaining lessons were carefully timetabled to fit into each week, in order to finish in time. After putting my nose to the grindstone I finished before June and was able to enjoy my reward.

In the Old Testament, Moses, on the other hand, was motivated by eternal rewards.

“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. “(Hebrews 11:24-26 NLT)

Despite Moses’ privileged upbringing and education in Pharaoh’s household, he was motivated to abandon his position and wealth for a higher purpose. “Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews.” (Exodus 2:11 NLT)

Moses identified with the oppressed Hebrew worker, and came to his defense. He killed the Egyptian overseer. Then Moses had to run away, because someone had witnessed this rash act. Moses did not fear the Pharaoh’s anger, but “kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27 NLT) I’m sure he learned of the true God as a young child when the Pharaoh’s daughter returned him to his own mother to be raised. In the foreign land of Midian, he spent many years tending sheep, training for the great purpose God had for him. In the end, Moses was motivated by what mattered most, to serve God by leading His people out of their slavery in Egypt.

“He [the Lord] said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.’ I replied, ‘But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.’ ”(Isaiah 49:3,4 NLT)

Let’s be motivated, even when we think our work has limited value, and direct our efforts to the furtherance of God’s kingdom.

Lord, help us to focus on pleasing you, rather than expecting an earthly reward for the things we accomplish. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada