We’ve all heard the expression, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” There are varieties of ways to motivate a horse: spurs, a bridle, a whip, and, of course, the proverbial “carrot on a stick.” The whip and the carrot will both motivate a horse. A whip is used to slap the horse on the rear and motivate it to run. When you want the horse to pick up the pace, you simply spank him with the whip. That would probably work with people as well, but I don’t suggest you try it. A whip will only work as long as a rider is there to apply the pressure; while a carrot will motivate a horse any time he sees one. If a horse walks into his stable and sees a whip hanging on the wall, he does not immediately break into a run. But if a horse enters his stall and sees a carrot lying on the floor in the corner, he will go get it. One form of motivation applies external pressure, while the other taps the horse’s internal desires. While it is true that you can’t make a horse drink, you can salt his oats, which will make him thirsty and want to drink the water.
The motivation for following Christ and reproducing disciples must be internal rather than external. Paul appealed to Timothy with passion because he would soon be gone. Timothy would no longer have Paul to challenge him. If the drive for making disciples doesn’t come from within, the process will eventually break down and will not carry on. Disciple-making that truly reproduces is propelled by an intrinsic motivation.
In 2 Timothy 2:1-14, Paul appeals to the internal motivations that will keep Timothy going even in the face of hardship and setbacks. He uses several analogies and admonitions to demonstrate the drive we need to have and that which will see us through even in the face of suffering hardship. There are six key motivational factors that Paul appeals to in this brief passage. He cites three natural incentives and then three spiritual incentives for the Christian life. They are as follows:
Natural Motivations:
1. A desire to bring pride to those whom you are responsible to. Paul writes: “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3-4).”
2. A desire to be the best we can be. Paul describes this motivation when he says, “If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules (2 Tim. 2:5; 4:6-8).”
3. A desire to benefit from the results of our efforts. Paul says, “The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops (2 Tim. 2:6).”
Spiritual Motivations:
4. Moved by the love of Christ demonstrated in His sacrifice for our sins. Paul charges, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned (2 Tim. 2:8-9).”
5. A compassion for the lost and dying souls in this world who are headed to hell without Christ. Paul describes his own motivation with these words: “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory (2 Tim. 2:10).”
6. Inspiration rooted in the character of God. Paul reminds us, in poetic fashion, of God’s faithful character. He says, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim. 2:11-13).”
All of these motivational incentives are internal drives that will cause someone to delay immediate gratification in order to aspire to a greater cause. Paul urges Timothy to remind the church of these things (2 Tim. 2:14). These are the motivations that create a hunger for Christ and a drive to stay the course in the face of opposition (2 Tim. 2:3,9).
The key to our effective disciple making and multiplying is to tap into internal motivation. If the Spirit of God doesn’t grip our hearts and move us to invest our lives in the most important cause of all, then no manipulative tactics, gimmicks and persuasions will get the job done.
The kind of discipleship, which will make an impact on the next generation will be the sort that grabs the heart of the disciple. Our methods must motivate from within and tap the disciple’s intrinsic motivation rooted in a vital relationship with God (Rom. 2:28-29). Our discipleship must have no less a goal than a transformed life. Conformity to external behavior is not enough! We must set our hearts aflame with passion for Christ. If we can’t see our own lives changed by the power of the gospel, we have no right to expect to see the world changed by our message. If the gospel is not more important to us than life itself, then the world will not be attracted to it. If they don’t see us valuing the gospel, why would we expect them to?
“Father, give us your heart and passion for the lost and dying around us. Let us see them the way you see them, and love them the way you do. Only then, Lord, will I truly accomplish what you have called me to do. ‘Go make disciples of every nation…’”
(This article is comprised of thoughts gathered from Neil Cole’s book, “Cultivating a Life for God.”)
Keywords: Discipleship