Motives

I want you to think about your motives today and try your best to be honest about why you do what you do.  It is easy to do something for someone and expect something in return but there are times you will do something for someone and not get even a thank you, then what is your response?  

Is your motive a loving one or do you help others for the ‘pat on the back’ and the praise you get for whatever task you performed?  When you help people do you go around bragging about it or do you keep it to yourself?  Many people do what they do to be seen of men, when they help someone with a chore they want it to be known or when they give money to help someone they want that to be known also.  Their motive isn’t born out of love, but out of selfishness, always thinking of how they can benefit from the transaction.  Even when it comes to paying tithes, people can do it to make themselves look good, but God loves a cheerful giver, one with pure motives.  

Jesus taught about giving to the needy in Matthew 6:1-4 saying this, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.  So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

When you have the right motive for the things you do, whether it be giving or helping someone, you will always be rewarded by the Lord, but if your motives are wrong you have your reward from man.  How would you like to be rewarded twice for what you do?  With the right motive you may be rewarded by the person you help and also by the Lord, but with the wrong motive you may only be rewarded by man, if they chose to do so.

When we talk about motives, we get it to the realm of self-righteousness if our motives and the things we do are just for our benefit and not for the good of the other party.  There are many things we can do for others such as; feeding and clothing people in need, visiting them in the hospital or in prison, even just giving them a cup of cold water or taking someone in that is in need, but when we do it we should make sure that our motives are what they should be.  All the things that we do will be judged and if our motives and works were right we will be rewarded, if not we will suffer loss.  

When the believer’s works are judged in the end and if all his works are burned up and he suffers loss, praise the Lord, he shall still be saved.  Read what it says in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

This is good news that we will still be saved, but should never be used for any wrong motives while we go about doing the works that the Lord has called us to do.  When our motives are wrong, the things we do will probably reflect it, so like Jesus said, “don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” and you may avoid some serious problems.  Something to think about!  Have a super day, and may God bless you and yours!!