Three Major Motivations for Evangelism

Accountability           
            If I know someone is going to ask me each week what efforts I have made to reach someone for Christ, I will no doubt make a much greater effort.  (For this reason, I believe it is a good idea to have regular testimony times with other believers where we can all give a brief report about our contacts made at work, school, organized visitation, etc.)  Isn't this principle true for just about everything we do? (Exercise, diet, Bible reading...) Maybe it is not a motivation for others, but it is for me!
            I realize it may not be the best reason, but I don't believe there is anything necessarily wrong with using accountability as a motivation considering the following points.  First of all, the Bible says we are supposed to encourage each other and provoke each other to "good works" (Hebrews 10:23-25).  Also, when Paul and his co-workers were out sharing the gospel, they always knew that they would be returning to their sending church to  give a report (Acts 15:26-28, 18:22,23).  I am sure that was a huge part of their motivation.                   
            Of course I realize there are definitely some dangers, however, in having accountability as the main motivation for your evangelizing efforts.  A very real danger in emphasizing accountability as a motivation is that it can promote pride.  In our attempt to make ourselves look good in front of others, we can be overly focused on "giving a good report."
            As a result, it can also lead to bad quality "soul-winning."  What I mean by that is that we can be more interested in getting someone to say what we want them to say than telling them what they need to hear and making sure they totally understand.  Relying on our own methods, we may lack true reliance upon the Spirit (like dead branches trying to produce fruit when Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches, working through Him, by His Spirit).
 
Biblical Mandate
            The gospel of Christ is the whole theme of the Bible, really.  All the Old Testament pointed to the coming Messiah and what He would accomplish.  Then the New Testament starts off by telling the good news of His death, burial, and victorious resurrection from the grave.   
            While on Earth, Christ stated that His very purpose for coming was to "seek and to save" the lost (Luke 19).  Then, after His resurrection He spoke with His disciples, leaving them a great work to carry on.  He left His church with the commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, John 20:21, Acts 1:8).

(Note: There may be a specific call upon certain men who God has ordained to take the Gospel to every creature, but it is definitely the responsibility of everyone to do their part in reaching family, friends, neighbors, etc.)
           
Charity
            A final, and perhaps the most noble, motivation for evangelism is simply charity.  Do you really want people to go to Hell?  If we really believe people are going to Hell if they do not believe/receive Christ, we would really have to hate someone awfully bad to not make sure they have heard the Gospel. 
            Jude speaks of having compassion on others, and how we can make a difference (Jude 22).  Then he goes on to speak of others who we must "pull out of the fire," saving them "with fear."  I'm afraid the average Christian neither demonstrates the right type of compassion for lost souls, nor do they fear hell enough to snatch their friends and family members away from its awful grip!
            What better cause is there, in this world, in which to give our time, effort, money, and every resource we have than evangelism?  What do you spend your time on that is more important?  What do you give your effort to that is more important?  What do you give your money to that is more important?  Lets become better evangelists for the Lord!
 
God bless you, and may your passion for ministry grow as you addict yourself to it (1 Corinthians 16:15)
RR