Our Aim in Missions
God is ultimate.
However, we often take what is good and pleasing to God (e.g. service) and make it ultimate. We turn away from God when we turn to lesser aims.
Our heart motivations will direct the aim of our service.
In Missions: The Biblical Motive and Aim, Professor John M. L. Young explains that,
“[a] man’s motive has to do with that which is within him, that which moves him to action, an emotion or desire operating on his will giving him an incentive to action … the motive is the stimulus moving one to try to attain his aim.”
We have already determined that the aim in missions is the glory of God. (see What Are You Living For?)
What should then be our motive to attain that aim?
Paul writes,
“For the love of Christ controls (synechei) us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV)
Having been redeemed, we no longer live for ourselves but out of love for our new Master. His love now constrains (seizes) us to go and proclaim his great salvation.
Yet we will always have mixed motivations in our missionary service.
With God, his aim for missions is clear—his own glory (Isaiah 42:8, John 17:1)
and his motivation in missions is constant—his love (John 3:16, 1 John 4:9).
Like a spear, our aim (the tip) of glorifying God, must be clear
and
our motivations (the shaft) of love for God and sinners must be constant.
“As the love of God, from God’s side, is the motive of His Son’s mission to earth and the glory of God His aim, so too, reciprocally, from man’s side the love of God must be the motive of missionary effort and the glory of God the aim.” John M. L. Young
If we examine our desires, we often find we have ulterior motives in our service to God. We are sometimes motivated by the glory we will get out of it.
or
We hope to find significance, acceptance, and purpose in our lives.
Whatever our motives, we must continually pursue the aim of God's glory and his purpose.
Source:
Young, John ML, Missions: The Biblical Motive and Aim, (Pittsburgh: Crown & Covenant, 2007). pp. 3, 4.