William Wilberforce, famous for abolishing the slave trade in England, inspires me. According to biographer Eric Metaxas, “He seems to have been motivated by love – love of God and the love of his fellow man – more than by a simple sense of right and wrong or justice and injustice. This is probably the single most important factor in what he was able to do.”¹ Paul addresses the concept in Galatians 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

I have been seeing more clearly when someone, including myself, is motivated “by the principle of the thing” and how that contrasts with being motivated by love. Principles are good, but by themselves, they can lead to harshness, even atrocities. I want to examine my principles, holding them up to the light of Christ’s love, to be sure they don’t block the light with darkness but rather that his light shines through them.

My prayer since reading this is that I and my family would be motivated by love rather than principle, and it’s remarkable to see the difference this makes.

¹Seven Men by Eric Metaxas, Thomas Nelson, Nashville © 2103