Motives Matter
Our Motives Matter
Every once in awhile, I come across a poem that‘s not only well written, but it emphasizes an important reminder for us as well.
God is omniscient.
That means He is sovereign, and He knows our every thought and motivation.
I don’t know about you, but I find this very convicting . . .
Father, Where Shall I Work Today?
Father, where shall I work today
And my love flowed warm and free.
Then He pointed me out a tiny spot,
And said, “Tend that for me.”
I answered quickly, “Oh, no, not that.
Why, no one would ever see,
No matter how well my work was done.
Not that little place for me!”
And the word He spoke, it was not stern,
He answered me tenderly,
“Ah, little one, search that heart of thine;
Art thou working for them or me?’
Nazareth was a little place,
And so was Galilee.”
Author unknown
Pretty wise words from this unknown poet, wouldn’t you say?
More importantly, what did Jesus say about our hearts and motivations?
Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 6:1, (NASB).1
Motives Matter: What Matters Most
Are we really trying to please God, or gain recognition from others?
If no one could see or recognize how we are serving the Lord, even in the smallest of ways, would we still participate?
Something to think about.
God knows everything.
He sees your acts of service, whether they are in public or those small acts of grace that we show towards others to reflect His glory on a more personal level.
The applause of others is, in regards to eternity, meaningless.
However, if our motive is to please God in our service, the treasures that await us in Heaven will exceed anything we could ever imagine.
So, like Paul, fix your eyes on the goodness of Jesus and the advancement of His gospel, no matter the circumstances surrounding you or the flawed motives you suspect in others or see in yourself. Seek to set aside your own pride and ambition so that your greatest concern will be the Lord’s glory—and as you do so, continue to share Him with those around you. What matters most is that Christ is preached, and in that we can all rejoice. – Christian pastor and author, Alistair Begg, Truth For life.2
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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
2 Quotation from Alistair Begg, Christian pastor, author, and founder of Truth For Life Teaching Ministry. “Mixed Motives”, February 18, 2021. para. 6. Web. Accessed 1 May, 2023. Retrieved from https://truthforlife.org/devotionals/alistair-begg/2/18/2021/
