What Is Your Motive?

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the Lord pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21: 2-3, KJV).

We hear much in our day about motivation. What is the hidden agenda behind deeds done? Is a person truly giving and charitable, or is he wanting something for the deeds he performs? Quoting The Message Bible, the above verses are translated: “We justify our actions by appearances: God examines our motives. Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance.”

We are taught not to neglect the assembling of ourselves together to worship (Hebrews 10:25). Psalms 122:1 declares joyfully: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Throughout the Bible, we can find references to the necessity for and benefits of worship. But even in our worship, our motives should be examined. Do we attend worship to be seen of men, to be counted as “among the faithful”? Acts of worship are seen as vital and necessary to a person’s well-being and His desire to have fellowship with God the Father. Likewise, we gain joy from associating with those of like beliefs. Joy and encouragement come from unity in worship. But probe deeper to see if your true motive is to worship and honor God, and to go forth from the experience a better person to fulfill the call of righteousness and justice in the world.

We can often go on a soapbox to declare the rightness of the way we choose. “All of a man’s ways seem right to him,” the sage of Proverbs declared. But if we truly follow righteousness, we will seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance. This will lead to self-examination of our own motives (reasons for doing things). When we arrive at this stage in our spiritual growth, outside discipline becomes less important. We are guided by the principles we have learned from God’s Word and from wise teaching. All of our ways will not seem right unless we have asked, “What would God have me do?”

It is not for self-aggrandizement that we go to worship or seek to do kind deeds for others, or even do a good job at the tasks that are ours to do. Our motives can show if we are in a project for self-gain. But when we want the honor to go to God, when our ways are bathed in His mercy and benediction, then we can live at peace.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, July 21, 2010