The more we lead self-focused lives, the more we’re prone to discouragement. Every time we forget it’s not about us, we’ll get prideful, fearful, or bitter. 

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:5, “Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake” (GW).

Pastor, God put you on this earth, and he has a message he wants to declare to the world through you. And this message isn’t about you or anybody else. 

It’s about Jesus Christ.

“It’s not about you” are the first four words of The Purpose Driven Life. It’s the most countercultural message you could give in today’s world. 

Nearly everything in society—songs, video games, TV shows, news stories, and advertisements—says you’ve got to think about yourself first.

But as Paul says in this week’s verse, we are servants for Jesus’ sake. 

That means we are motivated to serve others because of what Jesus has done for us.

God is always more interested in why you’re doing what you’re doing than he is in what you’re actually doing. 

He cares about the motivations of your heart. 

Why you’re doing something always determines how long you’re going to do it. 

If you’re motivated by selfish ambition, that will never be good enough. 

You’ll eventually get discouraged and quit.

But when you’re motivated to do something because of how it advances the Gospel and glorifies Jesus, you will have the encouragement you need to see it through.