Some study I’ve recently been doing has led me to question my motives. What causes me to think the way I think? What causes me to do what I do? What causes me to say what I say? What causes me to act the way I act? Oh, you say, that’s easy. Jesus. The right answer for everything. Righto! But…let’s just get honest.
Is that always true? Is Jesus always my motivation? Is that enough of a motivator? Gasp! Well, of course it is…how could you ask such a thing? Hush your mouth, you say. Well, speaking for myself only, I’m wondering if that’s always true or even a little bit true. If I drill down on myself, ashamedly, I say, no, it’s just not true, sometimes not even a little bit.
It’s so hard to ask ourselves the hard questions, that we rarely do. But, it’s critical that we do. Oh sure, it’s always easier to question others’ motives – I see a tiny speck of dust through my big log! Owww, stop beating yourself up, you say. Stop beating me up, you say. I throw no punches at you I don’t first throw at myself! Why is it important to contemplate these things, you say? Because as followers of Christ, we must realize that He will and does question our motives.
They say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.
Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he know they are futile.
Psalm 94:7-11
He says it right there, “The Lord knows the thoughts of man…” Does anyone else feel like they’ve just had a tooth extracted without novocaine? I don’t know about you, but, when I really think about it, the thought that He knows my thoughts makes me want to avoid eye contact and maybe throw up a little in my mouth. You too?
We are called to check our motives over and over. Why? Because we’re sinful folks. We just are. Because, if everything we say, everything we do, everything we are is not to glorify God, our motives are wrong and we need some soulful consideration, or reconsideration.
And whatever you do, whether in word of deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
Why do we do it all in the name of Jesus? To bring Him glory! Are we genuinely motivated by Christ, or by our own selfish desires? Ouch, another extraction.
The plain and simple is that as Kingdom people, everything we do and say should be Godly motivated.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and every. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11
We are not going to always get it right. Sin is subtle. It sometimes masks itself as Godly motives when sometimes they’re simply Bethly or Youly motives. Our life paths will be fraught with all kinds of motivators. Some are obviously bad. Some are very good, but not very God. We will stumble, but because of His promise, we will not fall. If we stay on His path, which is the only saving motivation, He will be glorified.
The evil one is crafty. He uses the ungodly motives of our hearts and minds to lure us from the path. Clinging to Jesus will allow us to push ourselves down as the motivator and for Jesus to be raised as our motivator, all for His glory. Let’s commit to the glory. Not ours, but His.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24-25