So, yesterday I wrote about my Freakonomics movie experience and how it reminded me why I don’t like incentive based programs. Kids get left out because the same incentive doesn’t work for all kids. I was having lunch with my boss on Monday and he asked me a question about what I got out of it and it caused me to think about a different side of incentives. His questions caused me to think about incentives in my life. I recognized that even I don’t respond to the same incentives in every area of my life.
For instance, last year I lost over 30 pounds in 3 months. I’ve been a lazy bum and have gained some of it back, but it’s time for me to pick up the running and healthy eating routine again and I just haven’t been motivated. What I’ve learned is that in order for me to lose weight, there have to be three things present. Accountability, competition and some kind of prize. Without those things, I’m just not as motivated. It felt really great to fit in some clothes I wanted to wear, but that great feeling isn’t enough incentive for me. When it comes to doing a great job in ministry, I don’t need the same kind of incentives. I don’t really enve need someone telling me I’ve done a great job. I’ve got an internal drive that pushes me forward because I just care about it. Funny how that is, isn’t it.
I’ll be even more vulnerable right now. One of my biggest struggles in the last few years is sitting down to read my Bible every day. The desire is there but when left to my own, there’s a good chance that it’s not going to happen. Now I have lots of accountability in my life and as a group we’ve tried all kinds of things from calling each other, sending emails and texts to encourage each other to take the time. It works some of the time, but not perfectly.
Initially, my mind things, “well, I just haven’t found that incentive that will help me read my Bible every day.” On the other side of things though, it feels less than right to be seeking incentives for myself to maintain spiritual disciplines. Shouldn’t time with Jesus be enough? I get to be with him forever in Heaven and he saved me from death, isn’t that enough? An outsider would probably say, “obviously not since you’re still not reading your Bible ever day.” Maybe that’s just my brokeness and my need for God to change my heart. I’m conflicted on this. Any thoughts?
Good read Kenny. Wonder how much has to do with our personality.
I’m almost finished with Me: Becoming the Me that God wants me to Be by John Ortberg. Talks about how we treat prayer and reading the Bible as primary means of communicating with God. But for those that aren’t visual or analytical learners, that might not be the way that God wants to connect with them.
Anyway very interesting take on Spiritual Growth and a good insight for those of us that teach kids.
I also just watched a video by Driscoll about something that totally blew my mind on Devotional reading vs. Reading for Study. I always was told to keep them separate. Driscoll completely disagreed with that approach.
Anyway just some thoughts and resources to throw out there to you.
I’m kinda butting in here … just came across your blog in a weird way, and this post caught my attention. I am unqualified to comment on incentives for children. But adults who consider themselves ministers – or any child of God – is another matter. Please consider this:
These days we turn bible reading into a “spiritual discipline,” like prayer – it becomes a scheduled, mechanical thing. That’s too bad. Is that how you communicate with others you love? “Honey, tonight at 6 I’ll listen to you for 15 minutes, then you can listen to me make my requests just before bedtime.” yikes
Your weight and your communications with the Father should both be subject to only one thing: an aching desire to please HIm. If reading your bible is nothing more than a daily ritual, forget it. Jesus didn’t even HAVE a bible to read every day, nor did Paul or any of the first century guys – they were too expensive. Most “Christians” through history either didn’t have one, or couldn’t read. Bible study isn’t a requirement. But if you really LOVE your Father, and think about getting HIs approval every day, then you’d naturally want to hear the sound of His voice.
I recommend starting with Psalm 23 and asking … what kind of man wants NOTHING – is never afraid – perfectly content? That’s the kind of man that wrote that Psalm. The same man that wrote Psalm 119. “Oh, how I love Your law, it is my meditation all the day!”
The problem isn’t bible reading or gluttony. The problem we all face is that we don’t live EXCLUSIVELY for the smile of our Father in heaven. That’s all the incentive you’ll ever need.
peace
Beautifully written. You summed it up best with your last line… we don’t live exclusively for the smile of our father in heaven. That’s our brokeness.
I’ll actually push back on your thoughts a little though. A lot of people set up daily times to read the scriptures because they want to be in God’s word and allow it to transform them, so they schedule it or plan for it. I don’t see anything wrong with that. There are times where I honestly schedule time with my wife. Why? Because I love her and there are busy times where we have to fight for our time, so we’ll literally put in on our calendars. It’s our love and desire to be together that pushes us to schedule at times.
So, in a perfect world with a person who is much better at time management than I am, I’d spend lots of time in the word or in conversation with God just because I want to and have made the time for it. Unfortunately, that world isn’t reality and I have to fight a lot harder for time with God.
Glad you took my randomness & anonymity with such grace – thanks.
Of course Jesus often left his followers to be alone to pray, and spent his once-per-week rest days (Sabbath) reading the word.
We also excuse ourselves for “scheduled” things, like meals, sleep and bathroom stuff. We need these moments to function physically. We also move mountains to observe holidays and family moments – ‘needs.’
Scripture is described by Jesus as bread, without which we cannot live spiritually. He had trained himself to change that for which he yearned. We still yearn for earthly pleasure … that’s normal, but as Jesus’ disciples, we ought to be making an effort to retrain our desires. Sometimes that starts by developing habits/schedules, but for the mature it should be a thing of the past. (1 Cor 13.11)
Here’s an experiment I urge you to try: make it your goal to change what you WANT/desire. This may start by changing what you DO, but it’s not really the goal. The goal is to have the HEART (desire) of/for God. If you work to change what you desire/crave/want, then the behavior will follow naturally & effortlessly so that you’ll come to depend exclusively on God’s smile (Or maybe ‘gold star’ for a kids minister)
Read what Paul said about what he wanted:
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
(Philippians 3:10)