Means, Motive, and Opportunity

To convince a jury of guilt in a criminal trial in a US Court of law, three things need to be established: means, motive and opportunity. Means – did the person have the ability and the tools to commit the crime? Motive – did the person have a reason to commit the crime? Opportunity – were circumstance such that the person would have had a chance to commit the crime?

Thinking about this, I realized that these three things are necessary for any action I wanted to commit. If I want to accomplish a goal, develop a new habit, get rid of a bad habit, or commit a crime, I need means, motive and opportunity.

If I want to be a practical disciple, I need the means, the motivation, and the opportunities to practice what Jesus Christ has taught me.

Means

God have provided me His support to do His work. I have the Holy Spirit to help and guide me. I have His encouragement to do what I know I ought to do.

Too often people tell me they don't know “how” to do something. They don't know how to share the gospel with someone. They don't know how to mentor someone. They don't know how to lead a Bible study. They lack competence. And, therefore, they lack confidence.

We are probably the most knowledgeable Christian population ever to live. I have access to high quality sermons, books, and Bible study materials. I have access to the Bible study tools I need to solve any spiritual problem or answer any theological question I have.

Unfortunately, knowledge does not automatically translate into skill. Until I apply the knowledge in the real world, I lack the skill.

There are more “how-to” books available to the Christian population today than ever before. But if I just read the book I gain a theoretically understanding of how to do something. It is not until I try to do it that I gain a practical understanding.

A businessman that I highly respect told me that success in business was 20 percent knowledge and 80 percent experience.

I found these percentages to be true in my life. I recently read a book on evangelism, “More Ready Than You Realize: Evangelism in a Postmodern Matrix,” by Brian D. McLaren. It took me a couple of sittings over a couple of days to read the 192 pages. Maybe 5 or 6 hours total. I learned some good things.

Then I went out and started talking with people. I tried a more straight forward approach to starting spiritual discussions. And I found that people were more ready to engage in spiritual conversations than I previously thought. In an hour or two of trying to start spiritual conversations I learned as much from experience as I had from the theories I read.

Some things can't be communicated effectively using the written word. They can only be experienced. The body language. The thoughtful look on their face as a person seriously considers how to answer the question I asked. The enthusiasm in their voice as they ask questions. Their contemplation as they consider new possibilities.

With all the resources available in the Christian world today. With all the godly old saints to learn from. There is no excuse for lack of skill. If I don't have the skills, I just don't want them bad enough. Unfortunately, I think many people just don't want them bad enough.

This web site focuses on sharing experiences when applying skills while being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Motive

I have been told that fear is a great motivator. I think that is true. For the first 20 years of my life fear and anger spurred me on to accomplish my goals.

The Bible tells me that love is the greatest motivator. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Love is a greater motivator. Love removes fear.

That is why the first and second commandments are to love God and love other people. It could say fear God and fear other people. Fear is a powerful motivator to obey God. But not as powerful as love can be, if I let it.

Being properly motivated it hard.

This might be the most difficult thing for me. Like most people, I do what I “feel” life doing. If I feel motivated, I will do my Bible study or memorize a verse or share the gospel with someone. If I don't feel like it, I won't.

Proper motivation requires love as a motivator and God as the object of the love. Once my motivation to love God is established, then it requires love as a motivator and other people as the object of the love. It must be in this order.

I pray because I love God. I memorize verses because I love God. I share the good news with people because I love God and because I love people. I pray that I will continue to be motivated by my love for God. When my motivation changes to anything else, I find that I am not as excited about taking advantage of the opportunities that come my way.

Opportunity

Every time I read this passage, I think “'as we have opportunity,' who is Paul kidding? There are opportunities all around me. All I have to do is open my eyes and look!”

The opportunities are overwhelming. If I worked at it 24 hours a day for 7 days a week and 365 days a year, there would still be an overwhelming amount of work to do. The opportunities seem to grow, rather than diminish.

First, I have to decide which opportunities God wants me to take advantage.

Practical discipleship tips on purpose in life

Second, I have to order my life to revolve around the purpose God has given me. To do the work He wants me to do.

Every time I ask God to show me opportunities He does. Whether they are opportunities to share the good news, to encourage some one, to help some one, to give extra money that comes my way. What ever the opportunity, God always shows me something.

Which Comes First?

I will find the means and take the opportunities to serve what I love. There is no shortage of opportunities. But having opportunities does not mean that I will find the means or the motivation to take advantage of the opportunities. I can be well trained in a number of areas and have the means to accomplish much. But if I am not motivated and don't see the opportunities around me, I will not be successful.

Motivation comes first. I have to want something.

If I love money, then I will find the means and the opportunities to get money. If I love my wife, then I will find the means and the opportunities to please her. If I love my children, then I will find the means and the opportunities to show them I love them and provide for them.

If I love myself, then I will find the means and the opportunities to get my own way. If I love my dog, or my cat, or my horse, or my parrot, then I will find means and opportunities to focus my time and attention on that animal.

If I love food, then I will find the means and the opportunities to eat. And on and on.

What To Look For In Others

Paul told Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2) In the King James Version it says “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others.”

Paul knew that it was important to start with reliable or faithful men. Men who had already shown they were motivated by what they did. He knew that if they were motivated they could be trained to teach others also.

Sometimes I forget this principle. I am naturally drawn to people who are skilled communicators. I think how great it would be if they would put their abilities to work serving the Lord Jesus Christ. I see that these people have the means to do the work, they just need to be motivated in the right direction.

I think it should be easier to motivate people than it is to train and teach them. After decades of trying, I can tell you, it is not. A correctly motivated person can be trained to channel their efforts for maximum benefit in growing the kingdom of God. It is much harder to motivate than to train.

Return to Odds & Ends page


Return to Practical-Discipleship.com