Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.

~Ephesians 6:7 NIV

Performer

“Look, Daddy, look at me!”

 

The three-year-old rode her scooter up and down the driveway. Her head swiveled to catch sight of her daddy at each turn. Assured of his attention, she scooted faster, giggling. Proud of riding solo, she sought his admiration. But once his attention turned to answering his work phone, she lost interest in performing and dropped her scooter to the pavement. 

Her shoulders drooped and her head hung. She kicked at the gravel with her boot.

“What’s wrong?” Grandma reached out and lifted the little girl’s chin.

“Daddy won’t look at me. He’s supposed to be watching me,” she said, a couple of convenient tears welling from her eyes.

“Don’t you like riding your scooter?”

She nodded.

“Well then, does Daddy have to watch you ride it?”

“I want him to see me.”

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

~Colossians 3:23 NIV

Praise Seeker

Melinda signed up to head the events committee at church. She folded the paper, sticking it in her Bible to turn in on Sunday.

John, her husband, sighed. “Don’t you think you have enough to do at church? You already head the children’s department and facilitate women’s group every Wednesday night.”

“Yes, but no one else will put the time in to do it right. The pastor said he wants to utilize events to reach the community this year. I’ve already got several ideas.”

“You mean no one will do it the way you’re going to do it, right?” John tilted his head and stared into her eyes. “Have you prayed about this?”

Melinda looked away. “Yes, sort of.”

“What about the benevolence group? I thought you were invested in that?”

“Well, it’s not doing much. One of the other ladies can handle that.”

John rocked back on his heels. “So, let me see if I have this right. You don’t want to do the benevolence group anymore because they’re not doing much, but you want to do events because you think they will be doing a lot. And you haven’t asked God?”

Melinda wrung her hands together. “I’m just trying to help. I think if people see me working, they will feel as if they need to do more. What’s wrong with that?”

Motivation Checkup

What is wrong with that? We learn at an early age to perform for praise like the little girl on the scooter. She missed the simple joy of riding because of her selfish focus. 

Melinda did great work. She was dependable, consistent, and hard-working. The projects she undertook were worthwhile. She took her work seriously, and people praised her. But what was her goal and driving force? God or praise?

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

~Proverbs 16:2 NIV

Looking in and not up taints our vision and hinders our walk. But working for the Lord draws our attention to Him and deepens our devotion. Opinions of others no longer drive our purpose. 

In what ways are you working for the praise of others? And why?

Dear Lord, help me always to seek Your direction. Examine my heart and make it pure. Help my motives be heavenward, not selfward. May You receive all glory and praise. Amen.

Genre: Fiction

Copyright 2024: Look at Me: Sharon Davus: All Rights Reserved