The Real Reason We’re Doing What We’re Doing

By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

Just last month, my wife Cynthia and I were engaged in a cruise conference to the Greek Isles with some friends of Insight for Living Ministries. As we disembarked at Athens, we were near ancient Corinth, one of the sites where the apostle Paul ministered untiringly on his journeys. Anyone who visits Corinth’s marketplace will observe a raised platform of carved stones—the city’s judgment seat. Twenty centuries prior, Paul stood at this very spot as Roman Governor Gallio sat on the judgment seat (Acts 18:12–17).

When Paul later wrote to the believers in Corinth, he compared his appearance at Corinth’s judgment seat to the appearance each Christian will face before "the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10). That moment won’t be a judgment for sin since sin was judged at the cross. Instead, it will be a judgment to determine our rewards based on how well we have followed Christ. On that day, Jesus will examine and reveal our motives and the quality of our service (1 Corinthians 3:10–15; 4:5).

My mind goes back years ago to the day I asked my sister Luci, whose art skills far exceed mine, to print a simple, three-word question on a small card. Just black letters on a white card, with a bold question mark at the end:

WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVE?

I no longer have that card, but the question remains indelibly etched on my mind. It’s one I ask myself almost every day. It has proven to be an essential checkpoint of my life:

Why am I planning this?
Why was I involved in that?
Why did I say yes (or no)?
Why did I write that letter?
Why am I preaching this message?
Why did I respond like that?
Why did I mention that person’s name?

All those questions force me to face my motive. Here’s one more: Why do we do what we do at Insight for Living Ministries? What’s our motive? I can answer that in five words: so lives may be transformed. That’s it. That’s what it boils down to. What began on a handful of radio stations more than 35 years ago has grown—by God’s grace and to our amazement. We are now an international outreach ministry that delivers God’s Word around the world in multiple languages every day. How very exciting!

Focusing on our God-given motive for doing what we do is what our Vision 195 is all about. We want to teach the Bible—and help others teach the Bible—in all 195 countries of the world. To gear up to make that happen, we need to raise $3.5 million above our normal donations in the next few months. It’s a huge task! But how worthwhile! Why? Because we’re laying the essential groundwork for a ministry that will outlive us all. And the motive behind our vision?

To teach the Bible so that lives may be transformed . . . all around the world.

About the author

Pastor Chuck Swindoll

Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.

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