Under New Management: Motivation to Righteousness

Before entering into full-time ministry, I worked for about ten years as a stock clerk in a grocery store. Within this ten-year period, I worked in two different stores under two entirely different managers. One of these managers ran his store with a harsh “iron fisted,” distant authoritarian approach. He utilized harsh overbearing techniques to get us as his employees to output according to the expected standards. Negative external motivators were often used, and a competitive environment was encouraged. Needless to say, the overall sales and output were only mediocre for this particular store. Thankfully, I only had to work in this environment for about a year.

The environment of the second store was completely opposite. The manager of this store encouraged cooperation instead of competition. He was very personable and utilized internal forms of motivation. He believed we could be the best, and as a result, we wanted to be the best. Under this manager, the employees worked as a team, and we were able to produce well beyond expected outcomes. The team at this particular store was therefore recognized as the best in our region of the state and was often awarded as such.

This scenario is similar to what we read about in Romans 7 and 8. Romans 7 is a picture of the Apostle Paul in his condition when he lived under the Law of Moses before his conversion (Acts 22:16). Under this system (the Law of Moses), his sin was revealed (Romans 7:7). Paul said this was a good thing but explained that something remained (Romans 7:10-11). The Law of Moses did not remove the burdensome law of sin and death (Romans 7:21-24). Under the Old Covenant, Christ was coming in prospect and had not yet come in reality. Therefore, although there was a sense of forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-2), the burdening consciousness of sin remained (Hebrews 10:1-3). Sin and death therefore had a domineering effect, and the desire to serve was low.

Looking back at his mindset under that old system, Paul cries out “who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The answer is Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1-2). The key phrase is “But now”. To say that “now there is no condemnation” implies that before there was condemnation. We are therefore “under new management” so to speak and have a greater and freer incentive and motivation to serve God (Romans 7:6 – the key verse BTW in this section). May we then praise God and offer thanksgiving with Paul saying, “I thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 7:25).

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Filed under: Devotional, Michael Carter on August 24th, 2008