Whose it for?

There are so many answers to that question. Who is it for? Could it be a gift? Could it be your performance? It could be just about anything. But in the last 24 hours, I've had to heavily ask myself that. I've come up with 3 possible answers.

1. Yourself.

This one is hard. A lot of times I tend to tell myself that I have to do something for myself. I spend to much time giving or doing for others that I don't do things for myself. But what I'm referring to here is if you are doing things to glorify yourself. Kinda a "look at me" moment. Look what I can do (Stuart's voice). When your motives are for self-gratification then you become the center of everything. I'm sure you have heard the phrase, "the whole world doesn't revolve around you." The Bible is constantly showing us that we aren't supposed to do things with selfish ambition. We are supposed to be humble and think of others before ourselves. I love what James says. Check it out. 

James 3:14-16 NIV

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 

2. Others.

I'm not trying to start an argument or anything here. Because we are supposed to do things for others. We are supposed to be servants. This is what we are called to do. But somethings we do things with other intentions. For example. Let me do this for this person because then they will owe me. Or look at what I have done for you, or your organization. Which kinda goes back to be selfish. A lot of times when we are constantly doing things for others we can become someone who gets walked on. What is the hardest part of this is doing things with the right heart. Check out what Luke says. 

Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

3. Christ.

This is who we are supposed to do everything for. When we serve others, we have to do it as we are doing it for Christ. Like the scripture in Luke says. It's hard to do things for other people when they are ungrateful and hateful to you. But we have to keep going. Even if we have a thousand people against us. We have to keep going for the cause of Christ. It's not about our selfish ambition or personal gain. Or having people manipulated to do what you want them to. It's doing things for Christ. So people see the Christ in you. It's not easy. My husband has kept reminding me of this scripture in Colossians.

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

The last 2 weeks I have had to keep this in check. I have had to check my motivations with a lot of different things. And hey, it's the 1st of the month. No better way to start the month for me than refocusing my motives and intentions. I encourage you to do the same.