What Is Your Driving Force? Series

Ec 4:4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.

6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

8 There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. (NKJV)

There are many things that drive people through life, some good and some bad. There are three driving forces that are not good that I would like to talk to you about this morning. They are material things, fame or approval and anger.

What is your driving force? What makes you tick? Do you even know? For what do you work? For what do you toil? Why do you live the way you do? Does it even matter? For what do you give your energy to? What matters most in your life? I know what many will say, (“Put God first”) but what does your actions say? Jesus ask almost the same question.

Mt 16:26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (NKJV)

What is the most important thing in your life? I did not say what do you think should be the most important thing in your life. I said what is the most important thing in your life? The answer is that which drives you or that which motivates you. That which fulfills your desires or that which urges you along as you complete your days here on this earth.

I know there are some who trudge through life without a clue of what drives them. They just want to get by. They are satisfied with just making it. They don’t realize there purpose of life and don’t really care what motivates them. They just want to be left alone to do their thing until they die. But then comes the judgment!

To some their driving force is material things. They want all they can get materially and that is what they strive for. They want monetary recognition and things that they can hold on to. But you know the statement is true, “You can not take it with you.” Those who’s driving force is materialism want to be a step above every one else. They want to drive the best car and have the biggest house. They really want to be envied and sought after by the elite, and they are! In our text we read:

Ec 4:4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. (NKJV)

Man will envy you if you have money and things but is that what’s profitable. What will a man give for his soul? As we read in Mt. 16:26, what profit is it to a man if he gains the world and loses his soul? The answer, there is no profit to a lost person who dies in that state. They are whisk off into eternity to receive their reward of eternal damnation to suffer the consequences of their material filled life. If your driving force is material things then you need to change you driving force. Your driving force, that which makes you tick was meant to be the purpose and will of all Mighty God!

To some their driving force is to be accepted or approved of. They do everything in their power to gain the approval of people. They want to be in the “in crowd”. They want to be recognized by worldly people as beautiful, popular, intelligent, witty and athletic. They give their all to be approved. Their driving force to be accepted starts at a very young age and often sponsored by their parents. Their parents often wanting their children to be what they think they failed to be. The Holy Spirit speaking through the writings of James and Paul says:

Jas 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? (NKJV)

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?