DIMES Framework question 3:

M – What MOTIVATES me most?

From the time the Endurance got trapped in pack ice until the crew of Shackleton’s ill-fated Trans-Antarctic Expedition were rescued, nine months had passed. Surviving on seals, penguins, and even their dogs, the men endured the ice, uninhabited islands, and weeks on the open water on two lifeboats. Against all odds, every crew member made it back home alive as Shackleton’s sense of duty and responsibility toward his men motivated him to do everything possible to make sure every one of them survived.

Few of us are ever going to experience this kind of intense survival situation, and yet we all have a motivation for life. Beyond the temporary motivations required for passing exams or completing a DIY job at home, we have something in our lives that drives us. It’s our “raison d’être”, our life’s purpose.

Whatever “it” is, it moulds our actions, reactions, and interactions. It is our dominant motivating factor, in that it governs our core being. Our personality, belief system, worldview, and ethical morality is assembled and shaped according to this driving force.

Heart start

The primary motivators of our life begin within our spiritual heart. Where that spiritual heart is spiritually alive and governed by the Lord and His Word, our thoughts and desires will be most strongly influenced along a godly path. That doesn’t mean the godly path will always be chosen, but that is where the most satisfying and fulfilling path lies.

On the other hand, when that heart is spiritually dead, its primary motivators are more carnal, earthly, and natural. Our natural state is sinful and selfish. Even generosity and kindness, though outwardly noble, arise from self-centred motives: a desire to feel good about ourselves, to feel that our lives have meaning and purpose, without reference to God. Yet that meaning and purpose, disconnected from honouring the Lord, is not of faith, and whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Therefore this role of the heart, as understood from a biblical perspective, gives us a scriptural “handle” that helps us grasp the importance of the things that motivate us, since it is from that heart that all the “issues” of life flow.

Human beings are complex and full of contradictions, as seen in James’ teaching concerning the tongue:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. …
James 3:8-10

Double-mindedness is at the root of this problem. It requires us to accept at least two conflicting value systems, but this always leads to spiritual instability. Back to James:

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:8

Yet it is possible to overcome this kind of thinking and reverse the contradictions, restoring harmony and stability:

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:8

This suggests that double-mindedness is sinful – but why?

Practical polytheism

Double-mindedness does not treat the Lord as the only God of our lives. We may still treat the Lord as more important than anything else, but if there are other things that we feel obligated to, our allegiance to the Lord is being split.

God does not want to be the first of many. He desires, and deserves, to be the first and only. Our relationships with everything else must be viewed through the lens of His sovereignty over every aspect of our lives.

This is why it can be so hard to identify those things that intrude into God’s place in our lives. Doing so may reveal a faith that, practically speaking, is polytheistic – acceptance of multiple gods.

To most Christians that might be a horrific thing to say. We would never in a million years consciously worship false gods, yet allowing anything else into God’s rightful place, functionally speaking makes them into gods. It’s idolatry in practice even if not in belief.

Practical polytheism is subtle and identifying it requires serious and detailed self-examination. Our motivations are a strong indicator of what we truly treat as God in our lives. That’s why we ask this question – “What motivates you most?” – and it occupies the central position in the DIMES framework. Although that was not necessarily by design, it is appropriate. The question associated with this aspect of the framework is this: “What is the central purpose or driving force of your life, shaping your decisions and interactions?”

Consider four avenues of examination:

Calling

What do you hope to achieve by your life? This goes beyond having a career or personal accomplishments.

The word “ambition” suggests something more than goals or dreams or completing a “bucket list”. It speaks of the contribution our existence on earth has made, the feature that gives meaning to our lives. The greatest motivating factor of your life will determine that principal ambition.

If your greatest motivator is wealth, your ambition may be to accumulate wealth to become the richest person in the world. If your motivator is fame, your ambition may be to make yourself a household name that everyone in the world recognises.

Most of us will never reach that level of excess, so our ambitions need to be more realistic. Perhaps it’s to live a comfortable life with enough to leave a legacy for your children. Perhaps it’s to be seen as the person everyone can rely on – a confidant and stalwart support that others turn to. Perhaps your ambition is to do all in your power to help your children succeed in achieving their dreams.

But what if the Lord is your primary motivator? Well, there are a number of ambitions that are godly and biblical. There’s even one desire we should have that is named as our calling:

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

According to Paul, our calling is to glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That should be the ultimate calling of every Christian – to live in a way that glorifies and exalts the Lord.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

True worship in all its forms will in some way lift up (exalt) the Lord or enlarge our view (magnify) of the Lord.

Compulsion

What pushes us to act a certain way? What is it that motivates us to overcome obstacles?

The answer depends very much on our calling. Whatever our highest calling is, we will be driven to overcome any disruption to it.

One popular ice-breaker activity is “Would you rather …?”, in which each person is offered a choice of two outcomes and asked which they’d rather have.

• “Would you rather lose your sight or your memories?”
• “Would you rather communicate only in emoji or never be able to text at all ever again?”
• “Would you rather have a pause or a rewind button on your life?”
• “Would you rather get trapped in the middle of a food fight or a water balloon fight?”

What if we were to do a “Would you rather” test on all of your plans and intentions? Then get all the winners and pit them against one another again. Then keep whittling down the list until we’re left with just one goal? Whatever you’re left with is your primary motivator. That’s the thing in your life you’d sacrifice everything else for.

But in doing such an exercise, it’s very easy to choose those answers we know we should choose. Perhaps it would be better to look back at what we have already sacrificed or prioritised.

• When faced with either reading the Bible or scrolling through social media, what have you chosen?
• What about attending a church meeting or having family time at home?
• An extra few minutes in bed or a time of prayer to start the day?
• Talking about the match watched on Saturday or about the message preached on Sunday?
• Joining the outreach team knocking doors or adding another episode to your binge-watch?
• Filling every moment with work or activities and falling asleep in church the next day, or preparing yourself the night before so you’re fresh to hear God speak?

Being honest about these will help discover what compels us in life. And it’s not a “would you rather” hypothetical, but an honest examination of what we have done that will reveal what we really value as our major motivating factor.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the other two avenues that determine our motivation.