If salvation is not in some manner based on works, what motive do you have to work?

I believe in works and works are no doubt taught in scripture, but a proper perspective concerning works must be understood.
If I work to earn my right to be a child of God, then it cannot be by grace. This would mean that God gave it to me out of debt. Instead, I work because I am a child, it is my duty. But even more so, I work, in a vain attempt, to repay God for what He already did for me. I don’t owe Him anything, because He did not require anything of me, it was given by grace. But knowing what He did for me, I want to be a good and faithful servant, doing all I can to show Him how much I appreciate what He did.

If a person works to earn his salvation, then he is in bondage to the law. He is always trying to fulfill the law and will always fall short. True faith is knowing that Christ fulfilled the law and set the person free. The person who works because he has been freed, is the person who does so out of love for Christ.

Consider a child who lives at home. If this child was always doing his chores, going to school, and being obedient to his parents out of fear of being cast out of the home, this child would never be able to find peace or rest. But the child that performs these duties out of reverance for his parents, can find peace and rest. This is the child that knows if he does not complete them to standard, he will simply be chastened and will have to do them over until they are performed in an acceptable manner. This is how God deals with His children. We are given duties that we must perform. If we choose to be disobedient, then we will be chastened. If we do not perform them to an acceptable standard, we will be chastened. And if we choose to be obedient, we are blessed. We do not have to worry about being cast out of the family or home.

Yes, I work and I work hard. I do not work to earn His love, but instead out of love for Him, for having shed His love on me.

Therefore, my motive is LOVE.