1 Chronicles 28:9 (MSG)
“And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father’s God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for GOD examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, He’ll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he’ll leave you for good. What motivates us to action?
Why do we do the things we do? We have motives for the ways we respond to every opportunity that comes our way. We have motives for how we react, act, and respond in every situation.
There’s always a motive, which could be good and positive, bad, and negative, godly motives, selfish and selfless, and many others.
Everybody’s motive in each situation differs based on individual perspective, location, and so many other factors according to Proverbs 16:2.
One can do the right things but out of a wrong motive, even the thing of the kingdom according to James 4:3. One can be involved in Christian activities out of false or wrong motives. Many of the externals of religion can be done from false motives.
Self-deception is one of the easiest traps of the enemy that we fall into. The self always helps the self get whatever self wants. When we have a fervent desire for something, we can easily deceive ourselves by telling ourselves whatever we want to hear, to make our motive for wanting that thing acceptable. If our will wants a thing, our mind will give us a variety of motives why we should have it, even by deception according to Jeremiah 17:9.
One person may give a lot of money to a charity to earn a tax break; another may do so to win an electoral favour and still, another may do so out of deep compassion to help the less privileged see Matthew 6:1-8. The same act but with different motives and hearts. God is interested in everything we do, big, small, private, or public, how, and why as seen in Mark 12:41-44.
Remember when King David took a census in 1 Chronicle 21? There was nothing unlawful or sinful about it, it’s economically and politically acceptable but his motive was wrong. He wanted to determine the strength of his army. The motive was what God disliked because it catered to David’s pride in his ability and resources and not in His God. Any motivation that originates in our sinful flesh is not pleasing to God according to Romans 8:8.
How many harmless actions do we engage in that defile our motives? Even a harmless decision, when done with the wrong motive can become destructive.
David admonishes us through Solomon his son, with the importance of serving the Lod wholeheartedly, making sure that our motives and performance is for the ultimate purpose of serving and glorifying the Lord.
What motivates our spiritual services? When we pursue life with a self-serving motive, we rob ourselves of the joy God intends for us, Philippians 1:18 says proclaiming Christ in all we do but be our motivations.
We must learn to serve God and humanity with a pure heart, mind, and motive. We must realize that God is interested in both motive and action. Proverbs 21:2 says everyone’s ways are usually right to the. God already knows what is in your heart, ask Him to reveal to you the areas where your motives need to align with His.
Be sure that your motives for doing whatever you do are right with God because a person’s motivation for doing good deeds is what counts in God’s eyes.
Shalom