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Have You Checked Your Motives Lately?

All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Proverbs 16:2

Are you quick to question other people's motives, yet slow to examine your own? Henry Blackaby tells of a highly self-righteous man who was praying, "There's something wrong, Lord. I read and pray regularly, attend church religiously, always give to charity, and yet I don't have much. My brother doesn't do any of these things, yet he's got tons of money. How come you've given Him so much and me so little?" After a pause, a voice said, "Because you're a sanctimonious pain-in-the-neck!" You can't fool God with self-righteous justifications; He looks at hearts and judges motives. He knows when you do the right thing for the wrong reason. You can sit in church with a heart that's far from God. The Israelites did (see Isaiah 1:10-17). You can help the needy and still be greedy. Judas did (see John 12:4-8). You can proclaim your love for Jesus, yet be furthering Satan's cause. Peter did (see Matthew 16:21-28). You can make sacrifices, yet still be living in disobedience. Saul did (see 1 Samuel 13:8-14). You can pray with wrong motives - some New Testament Christians did (see James 4:3). The Bible says, "All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord." God looks for one thing - love. Everything you do should be motivated by love for Him and for others. So, take a long hard look beyond your actions to what lies behind them. Then ask God to show you what He sees when He examines them.

Prayer
Heavenly Father – help me do a motive check in my life to make sure that all that I do is prompted by Love for you and others. In Jesus' Name, Amen