What starts your motor?

All organisations wrestle with motivation. And the start of a new year is a good time to offer some new inspiration and momentum to the church.

In speaking about motivation I am implicitly adopting a model of the local church which assumes it has work to do.

We can think of this work as three-dimensional — the IOU picture of the church. Inwardly — to build one another up. Outwardly — to reach out to the lost. Upwardly — to serve God in worship. These three must be kept in balance. But, in particular, we need to give priority to the outward. Evangelism easily slips down the list.

So, with this idea in mind, here are five aspects of the work seen from the perspective of motivation.

Leadership

As leaders we are meant to try to help and guide in all the five areas. But there are three things to say which pertain to leaders themselves.

1. Preaching. True motivation is intrinsic, rather than extrinsic. It comes not from outward factors but from inward desires. Children are rarely motivated to do their music practice by rewards or whatever, if they do not first of all have a real love for music. Just so, we will not get very far in seeking to motivate people to work for Christ unless they love Christ. Therefore, if leaders want to motivate the church one of our principle aims in preaching must be to give every reason to the congregation to love the Lord Jesus. We must tell them vividly and often of his person, his work and his affection for us. The love of Christ compels or motivates us (2 Corinthians 5.14).

2. Example. Leaders showing something of the character of Christ in their own lives can both capture and inspire others. How did David get so many men to risk their lives in following him while he was on the run? Surely there are some principles to learn from him? He had a vision (of a better monarchy). He was real with them, open about his feelings and failings, yet pointed them to God. He was prepared to make tough decisions (1 Samuel 22 and 30). Similarly Paul was loved by his fellow-workers, and inspired young Timothy. Leaders must set good examples.

3. Commitment. Here is a challenge to long ministries / pastorates. The minister looks for commitment to the church from the people. But if the people get the sense, ‘Here’s a pastor who will only be with us for five years and then move on’, this will not foster commitment in them. If the church senses that the pastor himself is on the look out for a bigger / better church, it will discourage them. Yes, longer ministries bring their own problems and challenges which need to be faced. But, generally, they are necessary if we want commitment from our church members.

Task

The task of the church itself can be a great motivator for people.

1. We are serving God, the greatest master, and we are involved in the greatest project imaginable. We are working to build the kingdom of God, the only entity now on earth which will last for eternity. We need to emphasise that big picture. Not only so, but all other earthly business eventually discards its workers, they are pensioned off and forgotten. But the kingdom of heaven never discards us but moves us on to higher service. People get de-motivated at work if they do not see how their task is useful. Do you remember the first episode of the old comedy series The Good Life? Tom Good works as a draughtsman for plastic models to go in cereal packets! It is the recognition of the utter banality of his work which de-motivates him and first prompts him to give it up and go for self-sufficiency. Our Sunday school teachers, welcomers on the door, deacons or whoever need to see how their job fits into the big picture of salvation. ‘Yes, I may be just serving coffee on the coffee rota. But if I serve coffee in such a friendly way that a visitor feels wanted and welcomed, so that they stay in church long enough to hear the gospel and perhaps eventually turn to Christ — then my little job has made an impact for eternity. In the audit of eternity, my little coffee job is bigger than Microsoft!’

2. Given point 1, then when we recruit people into a job in the church it is very worthwhile if the minister or elder can sit down with them and talk the task through with them. Explain what it is, why it is important, and what its potential is in the work of the gospel. In this exercise it is sometimes tempting to minimise what is involved, in order for them to feel that they can easily cope with the job and fit it into their schedule. But in handling it like that you may well be undermining their understanding of the importance of the job.

3. We need to do our best as leaders to make sure that as much as possible, people are gifted / interested in the task we ask of them. If there is a big mis-match between gifts and tasks then this will de-motivate people.

Workers

People are not cogs in a machine.

1. People need to be thanked for what they do. They need to be encouraged. This again is a primary work for a pastor. The pastor should seek to set a culture of encouragement and thanks in the church. Mark Twain said, ‘I can live on a good compliment for a month!’

2. Secular ‘human resources’ manuals encourage managers to know at least three bits of personal information (their hobby, their holiday, their football team, the name of their husband/wife or something) so that the worker feels they are recognised. Christian leaders need to be much further down this road. Pastors and ministers need not just to know a few facts about people, but for them to know that the leadership genuinely knows and loves them as individuals.

3. People will see their work as important as you give their work profile in the church. It is no good just saying that the work is important, if you never draw the attention of the rest of the church to this work. So give them time at the front of the church or space in the church bulletin to plug the children’s work or the ‘giving a lift to elderly people to church’ ministry. Get the church praying for their work.

4. Give people the opportunity to take time off. A sabbatical of a couple of months from the work can put a new spring in the step and an opportunity to read and think out how the work could be improved. New ideas sometimes come and this gives leaders new enthusiasm.

Resources

A new set of tools can often stimulate a non-DIY person to contemplate taking on a difficult job. How often have you shied away from cutting the hedge because of old rusty sheers which make it hard work? But with a new electric hedge trimmer for Christmas you are keen for the spring to come to be out there to have a go! Equipping people with good resources will also encourage people in the work.

1. Christians need reminding that they are co-workers with God. Their resources are not just their own strength and skills. God will work with them. God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3). Here Paul’s teaching about God’s power being shown in our weakness is very encouraging (2 Corinthians 13.9).

2. Fellowship of the church/team spirit. If people get left on their own to do a job, it can become very difficult for them. Notice the Lord Jesus always sent his disciples out in twos. Yes, this no doubt had a ‘witness’ aspect. The good news is established in the mouth of two or three witnesses. But it also had a fellowship angle / a mutual supportiveness about it.

3. Good environment or so called ‘hygiene factors’. It can be helpful to have good equipment, etc. Sometimes we need to invest. Too many churches seem to hoard money unnecessarily. Voluntary helpers will feel valued as the church gives them the resources they need in order to do a good job. Using the same old equipment, and making do, is sometimes necessary. But it may be that the treasurer is being a bit too cautious and the YPF could do with a new table-tennis table or whatever.

Reward

Though in talking about motivating church members we are not at all talking in terms of financial reward, nevertheless the Scriptures do speak of other kinds of rewards which are enormously motivating for us as Christians. How does the Lord reward us?

1. The Lord’s presence with us. It is interesting that at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus promises that he is with us always, as the church takes up his command to share the gospel with the world. As we serve Christ, we know fellowship with him (Matthew 28.20).

2. The privilege of being used by and useful to God. We have a wonderful God who is beyond our ability to comprehend. As we get caught up and used in the work of the Lord, we are both humbled and encouraged. ‘Who am I, that God should use me?’ This too is a motivating factor.

3. Rewards in heaven. This is a big subject, and all we do here is note its reality. The Lord Jesus made the matter of reward for faithful service very clear (Matthew 25.14-30; Luke 19.11-26). Furthermore, the apostle Paul continually sets before us the fact that he looks forward to reward in heaven (Philippians 2.16; 2 Timothy 4.8,18).

Perhaps there are lazy people in your church who need to be challenged. Perhaps there are de-motivated people in your church who need to be encouraged and helped. They have been slogging away for years and feel now that it is too much to carry. Hopefully, thinking through these five areas will help start up their engine for Christ again.

Notes on motivating your church

Leadership

Task

Workers

People are not cogs in a machine.

Resources

Reward

John Benton

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