Mixed Motives

I decided to renew my USA Today newspaper subscription. It’s not really my number-one source for news anymore. The home and car radios provide that. I seldom watch the news on television, but I do review news stories on the Internet.

The reason for my decision to extend my subscription for another year was that I’m used to looking for Sunday Soundbytes in the USA Today. I’ve been writing these church-related bits for over 20 years now, and for whatever the reason, they’re easier for me to find in this newspaper format than they are from other resources. So I guess I basically pay for and read the newspaper not for the news, but for another reason!

I’m thinking, if I’m not careful, the same could be true regarding my reading of Scripture. Do I read the Bible because it’s my primary source of material for the never-ending supply of sermons I write, or is it because I need a guidebook for my life as a follower of Jesus? Because the two purposes overlap, sometimes it’s hard to keep straight what my motives are.

Is this a problem you as a pastor recognize as well? I find it helpful every so often to remind myself as to which of the two approaches need to be kept in mind.

“My main reason I’m spending this time in Your Word is to allow You to shine a light on my life as a believer.” Or, “I’m looking for sermon material once again, Lord.” Which is it?

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Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

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