"The pastor pulls three seat numbers out of hat, and two lucky worshipers gets $250, while one gets $500. The cash comes straight out of the collection."

What would you call Jesus’ “incentive”? Or do you think it was a completely selfless act? If so, what does that say about humanity or can humans be selfless, too?

His incentive was the eternal redemption that brings us to God.

Heb 12:2

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1Pe 3:18

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

I also believe humans can act selflessly. Too many soldiers have covered a grenade with their own bodies to feel otherwise. Parents often act selflessly in behalf of their children.

But if “church growth” is your objective or “attendance numbers” this makes perfect sense. However, if the gospel is your objective, well then we have a problem.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:5-11)

I’m actually preaching that passage next week to pre-kickoff the Christmas / Advent Season.