Sometimes, getting fired up to share the gospel can actually be kind of difficult. We know that as followers of Christ, we’re supposed to go out and share the gospel. If that’s true, then why is it so hard to be motivated to do that? If we’re really honest, it’s because we don’t get anything in return. Earning a reward really is a great motivator.

Even just take our everyday lives for example. We are far more likely to do something if we know that there’s a reward waiting on the other side of it. If you’re not allowed to go out with your friends until your room is clean, then your room gets cleaned a lot faster. Get told that you’ll get $100 to mow the lawn, and suddenly you are WAY more motivated to go mow it. Imagine getting a brand new car just for cleaning the toilets! I don’t know about you, but I’d be cleaning them spotless every couple of days! We are way more motivated to spend time, effort, and energy if we know we’re getting something in return.

This same thing is why it can be so hard to be motivated to want to share the gospel. It costs you a lot and you don’t really gain anything. Paul said that he was willing to do whatever it takes to win someone over to the gospel. He was willing to be uncomfortable, weak, ridiculed, or even pretend to like something he really didn’t like. He was willing to do any of this to build a relationship with someone. He would spend his own money, give up his entire Saturday, or whatever else just so that he might possibly win someone over to Jesus. But wait, what was Paul’s reward for all of this? That’s right, you guessed it! He got hardships and persecution. Just what I’m sure he wanted.

So why was Paul so on fire to share the gospel? He wasn’t interested in a reward because he already had everything. When we have Jesus, we have heaven. Imagine having a credit card that just never runs out of money. When you go out with your friends, wouldn’t it be nice to just pay for everyone all the time? When you have everything, it’s easy to pay whatever it costs and to share with others. So when you’re struggling to share Jesus with the people around you, just think about how awesome heaven is going to be. Take a good look at the person you’re talking to and imagine what they’re missing out on. Let that be the motivation to share with them the joy of Jesus and what’s waiting for them in heaven.

Question:

Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. 

• What are your thoughts on what Paul was willing to do to tell people the gospel?
• From what Paul says here, is there anything we shouldn’t do in order to tell others the gospel?

Weekly Challenge:

• Take some time to pray and ask God to put someone on your heart that you’ve never talked to about Jesus before.
• Find time this week to have a conversation with that person and tell them the gospel! Take notes on how it went and bring it to our meeting on Thursday!