“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives
are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2, NIV).
Have
you ever had the Holy Spirit weigh your motive for something you have
done?
Have there been times He has revealed to you that something you thought
was
done in love was actually done for less than an altruistic reason?
Perhaps the
appearance of an act was loving, but the motive behind it was not.
Things that we do may appear to be inspired by love but God looks
into the heart. If we long to live a life that honors Him, we want to
know if
something is wrong. Most often those inner motives are fine, but
sometimes the
Holy Spirit will reveal that something is just not quite right.
Guilt
or shame can be a motive for an action. We may try to help someone for what we
believe is a good reason, but what we do actually becomes an attempt to lessen
a shame or alleviate a guilt. God wishes what we do to come from a heart that
has been cleansed of guilt and instead motivated by His love. We might also
feel forced by circumstances or others to do something that appears wonderfully
giving. However, our motive does not come from a heart that has been broken of
selfishness. If we give expecting something in return, then we also give in
selfishness. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to
give,” Paul wrote, “not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV). If we give freely in love without
analyzing the personal cost, our giving comes from a heart that understands the
costly gift of Jesus’ love. He laid down His life without expectation. His
motive was pure and unrestrained love. Ours should be the same.
I ask for the Holy Spirit to continually reveal the motives of my heart—if my
actions are inspired by His love or by any guilt or selfishness. If the least
bit of guilt or selfishness is involved, I ask Him to expose it and continually
cleanse my heart. But if His love is my
motive, I praise Him for cleansing the thoughts and attitudes of my heart.
There are no chains that bind. I am free to cheerfully give myself away
expecting nothing in return but His love to fill and sustain me.
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