Hollow Devotion

READ

Love must be the driving force behind all we do in the Christian life.

So many of us—myself included—have mastered the art of "looking the part" of a "good Christian." It is all too easy to make our faith into a performance, doing good works primarily to fuel our pride rather than to benefit our neighbors. However, if we want to live the kind of life that makes an eternal impact, all that we do must be done in love, for love's sake.

If we go through the motions of Christianity without love as both our motivation and our ultimate objective, we are practicing religion, not resurrection life.

Let's take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3:

"If I were to speak with eloquence in earth's many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn't express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.

And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God's hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.

And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value."

REFLECT

The Apostle Paul spends much of 1 Corinthians discussing the rich variety of spiritual gifts imparted to members of the church. Central to his message is that gifts—such as tongues, prophecy, and generosity—are useless if they are not leveraged for the benefit of others.

Like so many Christians today, the congregation in Corinth was steeped in spiritual comparison and competition. What may have begun as well-intentioned efforts to become more faithful and devoted followers of Christ had descended into a pride-fueled contest over who could appear the most "spiritual." Sound familiar?

At one point or another, all of us fall into the trap of performing our faith outwardly without cultivating the right posture inwardly. We all desire affirmation, applause, and acceptance—from others and from ourselves. If we aren't careful, serving regularly, giving generously, and dedicating ourselves to spiritual disciplines can be instrumentalized as ways to bolster our reputation, validate our self-worth, or convince ourselves that we are doing "enough."

When these hidden motivations creep in, our faith becomes a vanity project rather than an authentic expression of worship. The result is ultimately harmful, both to our souls and to the people we interact with.

No matter how skillful, disciplined, or productive our religious activity may seem, it is empty, hollow, and damaging when it is not driven by authentic love for God and others.

Love shifts our focus away from how our faith looks to others and toward how our faith blesses others. It frees us from the exhausting pursuit of being impressive, spiritual, or "good enough," and redirects our attention toward the people God has placed around us. The question is no longer "How am I performing spiritually?" but "Am I loving well?"

When we notice ourselves making a show of our faith, we are invited to pause and ask God to purify the heart behind our actions. He is not surprised when selfish motives creep into even our most well-intentioned efforts. He knows how prideful our hearts can be, and He chooses to love us anyway. Bringing our authentic motivations before Him and asking Him to recenter us in His love does not offend Him—it honors Him and the people we are called to love and serve.

So today, stop and consider why you crave the spiritual gifts that you so desire. If you are honest with yourself, what do you most want your faith to achieve? Are you driven to practice the Christian life for your own sake, or for the glory of God and the good of those around you?

With the faith of a child who's already been approved, accepted, and redeemed, ask God to purify your heart and refine your motivations today. Ask Him for the courage to identify when, where, and how pride sneaks its way into your devotional rhythms. Invite Him to increase your willingness to obey His law of love, even when doing so costs you. Ask boldly for a faith that is driven by love, rather than the need to be seen or praised.

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.

• Where might pride be shaping your faith practices? How would your actions change if they were motivated purely by love for God and others?

REST

Take a moment to rest in God's presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:

Abba, Father! Thank You so much for loving me unwaveringly, despite my selfish tendency to make this faith all about myself. Humble me and help me to have the right motivations behind my actions. Make me willing to confess and address when my selfishness pollutes my faith. Let my words, thoughts, and deeds be driven by love and love alone! Let my religious devotion serve Your kingdom purposes, rather than my short-term desires for recognition or affirmation. Increase my love for You and all Your people, so that my intentions might be pure and produce eternal fruit. Lord, I will not be perfect, but I trust in Your ability to temper my pride over time. Amen.

Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.