Motives

Motives are something we seem to question in others, but not ourselves. A motive is a reason for doing something. From a very young age, we learn to justify our motives and convince ourselves that our motives are pure. Yet, God’s word cautions us about the way we see our own actions.

Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weigheth the spirits.”

Proverbs 16:2 teaches that our ways seem pure to us, but only God knows the truth about our motives. He weighs them. It is important that we search our hearts and ask God to show us ourselves the way he sees us. Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” We can deceive our own selves, fooling ourselves about our own motives. Much of the time we have selfish motives. We want to be involved, noticed, thought well of, and the list goes on. However, everything we do is to be done for Him, with the idea that we have an audience of one. He is all that matters. We may fool ourselves, but we can’t fool God. He is a discerner of our thoughts and the intents of the heart.  

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” 

When we do things with the wrong motive it does not please God.

Romans 8:8 “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Are your prayers selfish? Are you praying you will do well in a certain situation, asking God to help you, but it is not because you want Him to be exalted, it is because of your own pride? Do you want to do well so you will not be embarrassed? When you give, do you let others know what you give, or the kind of actions you do? Matthew chapter 6 has much to say about our motives in these areas.

Matthew 6:1-4 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise, ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” 

He starts this narrative by saying “take heed.”  When Jesus says something it should be enough reason to pay attention. When he tells his audience to heed, his words are like a teacher telling you “listen up, this is going to be on the test!” Our motives are important. They are very important, to God. Without them being focused truly on Him, all we do is in vain. If your motives aren’t pure the attention you will get from men will be all the satisfaction you will receive.

Do this little check-up.

  1. If no one were around to see what I do, would I still do it?
  2. If no one comments on my actions, would I feel I’m taken for granted and cease to do good works?
  3. What would you do if the position that you love were taken from you?  Would you still serve with a sweet attitude?
  4. How do you feel when others praise you for what you have done? Do you feel good about yourself, or a bit sad that they recognize you and not God?
  5. If you know you are doing God’s work, and others criticize or leave you to do it alone, will you continue, or quit?
  6. If no one, and I mean no one, shows gratitude for what you have done, will you continue?

These are hard questions, but if we can deceive ourselves, and the Bible says we can, they are questions we must ask on a regular basis. If we are active in ministry and serving as we should, it is easy to enjoy the accolades of man. It is something we must guard our hearts against if our motives are to stay pure, and God is to get the glory. 

As I studied this morning I reflected back on the goodness of God, and the opportunities he has given me to serve. It has been a great journey, but I must always keep my mind focused on motive. If my motive is not purely for the exaltation of Christ, then my work is in vain. I pray for a life where others see Christ, and not me. Let my motives be only to portray him. Paul said it so well in Phil. 3:7 “But what things are gain to me I count as loss for Christ!”

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to Motives

  1. Ron Franks says:

    Excellent

Comments are closed.