“Pastor, as a Christian, can I be a motivational speaker or writer?”

Anything that encourages you to succeed is called motivation, whether it’s scriptural or not. There are loads of people who didn’t have any direction for their life, but things changed the moment they heard a speech or statement by someone who isn’t even a believer. The speech or statement had nothing to do with scriptures, yet it has been the motivation of these people.

While some of them eventually succeed – even though with vacuums here and there, most of them just keep pushing because of what they heard. And the reason is obvious, you can only go as far as the power of your motivation permits. If it’s a man’s principle that is motivating you, then expect vacuums. But if it is God’s principle that is motivating you, then expect a life without limitations.

I think most Christians misconstrue the purpose of motivation, they consider inspiration instead of motivation. What they don’t understand is that while you receive an inspiration from scripture, that scripture becomes a motivation to do what needs to be done. Inspiration is a leading or message from the spirit mostly communicated to give you understanding, that message or leading becomes a motivator that drives you.

Imagine you have a light generator that has no fuel, all of a sudden someone delivered fuel to your house. The availability of that fuel will immediately motivate you to turn on your generator. That’s what inspiration does, it motivates you to do something.

A Motivational teacher is a title given to someone who is assumed to encourage people without necessarily being religious. In fact, I know people who would enjoy your motivational counsel until you start quoting scriptures. The moment you quote a scripture, they’d turn off. Some of them will even tell you that they don’t like all those your deep Bible things. This is why most motivational teachers tend to observe principles that have worked in the lives of people and encourage their followers with them.

Motivational teaching is a great tool for evangelism. In James chapter 3, The bible recognizes 4 kinds of wisdom that is operational in the world. Let’s read from scriptures:

James 3:
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Men who are highly rated in this world got there because they applied wisdom. According to scriptures, man is rated according to his wisdom. So if a man has high ratings, it means you can learn from his wisdom. The only danger is that his wisdom might not come from above. It might just be earthly, sensual, or devilish wisdom. And as long as it’s not from above, then be sure to have vacuums in your life. This is why the bible tells us that “there’s a way that seems right unto a man, but the end is destruction”.

With this in mind, Christians who are motivational teachers shouldn’t fail to introduce “The God Factor” to their motivational speeches. So while you teach on 5 secrets to success, let the fifth secret be God’s favour. If you tell them to read and be dedicated, also tell them how God inspires people with knowledge. If you tell them to have relationship with people of influence, also tell them the importance of having a relationship with the God that created the people.

I’m an inspirational teacher, and the only difference between an inspirational teacher and a motivational teacher is that while a motivational teacher considers and validates all kinds of wisdom, an inspirational teacher focuses on the wisdom from above, which is the wisdom of God. Otherwise, we are both on an assignment, and that assignment is to bring more people to the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.

I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone. If it did, please partner with me in ensuring that this message reaches at least one million people by sharing, liking and ofcoure leaving a honest comment. Jesus will be glorified!

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

#EmekaAnslem