As I’ve been trying to get healthier, I have been learning that what I eat is one of the most important things to manage. Almost all food is fuel, but not all of it is good fuel. Sugar tastes good, and it gives me an immediate surge of energy, but it has a lot of negatives. It burns quickly and can lead to an energy crash afterward. It can make me fat, rot my teeth and lead to insulin resistance, which can lead to diseases like diabetes. Alternatively, fats, proteins, and other types of carbohydrates can be much better choices for fueling my mind and body.
I’ve also noticed that there are good and bad fuels that motivate our behaviors.
Example 1
Many sports teams and athletes use anger to get them ready to compete. They take offense at something the other team or the critics or the fanbase says or does. This approach can be highly effective, but it comes with risks. Athletes who don’t control their anger may earn penalties, expulsions or suspensions when they go too far. They may say or do things they later regret or that end up fueling the motivation of the other team. If they don’t process their anger well, it can spill over into their personal lives, causing health and relational problems.
Example 2
I have been providing spiritual direction for a young man who recently went through a painful breakup after a long-term relationship. He acknowledges that some unhealthy behaviors on his part led to the breakup, and he is motivated to change, but his motivation centers around the goal of getting his girlfriend back. There are times when this could be “good fuel,” but his girlfriend has made it clear that she is not interested at this time. His motivation goes up and down with every positive or negative interaction he has with her.
These examples might not qualify as “bad fuel” in the same way that sugar is bad for our bodies, but they aren’t the best fuel. Getting mad may help us win games, but it’s not typically sustainable. What happens when there is nothing to be mad about? And if we improve our life to impress someone else, what happens when that person says, “no thank you,” to the new person we have become?
It’s better to search for motivators that are “good fuel” with more sustainability and fewer risks and drawbacks. Good fuel motivators are more likely to align with God’s best for us, and they still have value even if we don’t achieve the outcomes we were hoping for. For example, if an athlete competes for the joy of the game or for challenging themselves to their peak performance, they can still be joyful and proud of their effort if they lose. And if the young man I mentioned makes changes because he wants to be the best version of himself possible, he still wins even if his girlfriend chooses not to reestablish the relationship.
Of all the “good fuels” available to us, I think love may be the best one. It isn’t always appreciated or reciprocated, but it runs clean in your engine. More importantly, it reflects the heart of God, who John tells us “IS love” (1 John 4:8 - emphasis added). Consider that love is the centerpiece of the Great Commandment:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Jesus said that all the Scripture hangs on these two commands. Morever, Jesus wants us to be like Him, and love is the driving force behind everything that He does.
When love is our reason for doing what we do, our hearts align with God’s heart. We do things for the same reasons He does. We put our self-interest second and partner with the Holy Spirit in the work He wants to do in our lives and in the lives of others. We let go of the outcomes that we would typically desire and say, “not my will but yours, Lord.”
This is how God builds His Kingdom on earth - one loving act after another. It’s good fuel (and it won’t make you fat).
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