Mixed Motives

So your Campus Ministry’s planning some great activities this year, and you can’t wait to jump in. First off, the weekly meetings always have hot bachelor(ette)s in the crowd. That’s why you plan to attend–religiously. Plus, there’s a fall retreat coming up, filled with three blissful days off campus with no homework! Then next semester, there’s a spring break missions trip. Visiting another country is going to be amazing, with fresh experiences and photo ops around every corner.

Yeah, it looks like a great year in Campus Ministry . . . until suddenly, a disturbing thought hits you. Most of your reasons for participating have no connection to God.

Sure, you try to pay attention to the sermons, and sing along with the worship band. You’ve thought about how cool it’ll be to serve people in poverty on your missions trip. But honestly, those aren’t the main reasons you’re getting involved. Mostly, you just want to have fun.

Maybe you shouldn’t bother serving God after all. Maybe you should admit you’re hopelessly unspiritual, and start a Campus Backsliders’ Association.

Unspiritual

Ever felt guilty because you were doing the right things—for all the wrong reasons? Yeah, welcome to the human race. Nobody ever manages complete unselfishness. Let’s say you go out to feed the homeless on Christmas Day. Naturally, there’s part of you that wants to serve others, but admit it–you also want some warm, fuzzy self-righteousness.

Even C. S. Lewis, the theologian who penned the Narnia books, admitted to acting out of impure motives. He wrote:

“As practical imperatives for here and now, the two great commandments [love God and love your neighbor] have to be translated ‘Behave as if you loved God and Man.’ For no man can love because he is told to. . . . If I [truly] loved my neighbor as myself, most of the actions which are now my moral duty would flow out of me as spontaneously as song from a lark or fragrance from a flower.” ¹

In other words, Lewis says, “not feeling like it” is no excuse for failing to obey God. When you’re faced with a command from Jesus, don’t wait until you can summon pure feelings. Just do the right thing.

So what if you’re attending your campus ministry for the wrong reasons? So what if you want a fun spring break trip, as well as the chance to be a missionary? Show up anyway. It’s part of loving God and people.

You’re Not Off the Hook

But that doesn’t let you off the hook for your motives. If you want to be an RA partly to pad your resume, that’s okay–but remember, you still have to honor Jesus in your job. And the best way to overcome crummy motives is by serving.

James wrote in the Bible, “If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.” So if your motives are lousy, be honest with God–tell him your heart isn’t where it should be. And then here’s the important part: Look for ways to show God and people that you care.

Let’s say you’re an RA. You may want this on your resume, but God wants you to love the people he loves. So start genuinely serving the freshmen on your floor. They’re not a distraction from your homework (or your Facebook addiction)–they’re folks that God put in your care.

Begin with an encouragement note to that lonely kid who’s homesick all the time. Then buy somebody a snack with your food budget (instead of ordering a pizza for yourself). Don’t phone in your job; be there for everybody on your floor, even the irritating people. Give them your time and give them your prayers. As you do, your motives will get much, much better.

Love Grows When You Serve

Doing the right thing (for the wrong reason) isn’t the end of the world. All of us have crummy motives sometimes. So yes, you can please God when you refrain from throwing things at your roommate. But it’s even better when your heart follows your actions, and you start caring for that Spawn of Satan who shares your shower.

Cleaning up your motives is tough, because it doesn’t begin until you start serving the people around you. Nobody said following Jesus was simple. But when you genuinely serve others, you might be surprised at the love that grows inside you. Even for your obnoxious roommate.

Sidebar: Good Decisions From Bad Motives

What happens when you realize your motives aren’t right, but you have to move forward with a decision? Let’s say you want to join a fraternity–partly so you can be a witness for Jesus, but partly because they have great parties. There’s no black-and-white “correct” decision. Nonetheless, you better figure out what you’re doing before Rush Week.

So how can you choose? Here are four tips for making better judgment calls, even if your motives are hazy.

1. Pray About It and Consult the Bible. Yeah, I know–“thanks, Captain Obvious.” But seriously, decisions often become clearer as you talk to God.

2. Get Good Advice. Pick the brains of people who’ve been following Jesus longer than you (maybe even your parents).

3. Watch the Circumstances. If everything that happens in your life seems to point in one direction, God might be trying to tell you something.

4. Remember, God Uses Us In Spite of Ourselves. Sometimes, you just have to take your best guess on a decision. It’s called “faith.” But your choice can still serve God’s purpose, even if you screw it up. That’s called “grace.”

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Copyright © 2011 George Halitzka. All rights reserved. This article was first published, in abridged form, in the Winter 2011 issue of Collegiate Magazine.