I learned about motives some time ago, but while studying the Word of God today, I learned even more about them.
Two people can do the same thing for God—one will be accepted while the other will be rejected. The difference is the motive behind what they did. No wonder the Bible says, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
While reading 1 Corinthians 13 this morning, I came across the popular passage Paul wrote about love. In one of the verses, he said that even if a person gives away all they possess to the poor and even surrenders their body to suffering, but does not have love, it profits them nothing.
I read that verse over and over again, and one question kept coming to my mind: Isn't giving away all your possessions and sacrificing yourself already an act of love?
Then it dawned on me that Paul was not talking about the outward act alone. He was pointing us to the motive behind the act. As I continued reading the chapter, I noticed that love does not boast, is not proud, and is not self-seeking. That helped me understand that love is not just an action—it is the right motive behind every action that pleases God.
A person can preach, give, serve, sacrifice, or even suffer for a cause, yet still be driven by pride, selfish ambition, the desire for recognition, or other wrong motives. God is not impressed by the size of our sacrifice if the heart behind it is not right.
Doing good is wonderful. Sacrificing our time, resources, and strength for others is commendable. But the real question is: What is the motive behind it?
If we desire God's reward for whatever we do, then we must first examine our hearts before we act. Jesus also taught that when we do our righteous acts just to be seen and applauded by people, we have already received our reward.
In Philippians 1, Paul said that while he was in prison, many became bold enough to preach Christ. Yet he also acknowledged that some preached Christ out of envy and selfish ambition, while others preached out of love. The message was the same, but the motives were different.
Finally, brethren in the Lord, as Paul often says, whatever service we render in the name of God, let our motives be pure, holy, and acceptable before Him. May our service flow from genuine love, for that is the kind of worship that delights the heart of God.
SHALLOM.........
Two people can do the same thing for God—one will be accepted while the other will be rejected. The difference is the motive behind what they did. No wonder the Bible says, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
While reading 1 Corinthians 13 this morning, I came across the popular passage Paul wrote about love. In one of the verses, he said that even if a person gives away all they possess to the poor and even surrenders their body to suffering, but does not have love, it profits them nothing.
I read that verse over and over again, and one question kept coming to my mind: Isn't giving away all your possessions and sacrificing yourself already an act of love?
Then it dawned on me that Paul was not talking about the outward act alone. He was pointing us to the motive behind the act. As I continued reading the chapter, I noticed that love does not boast, is not proud, and is not self-seeking. That helped me understand that love is not just an action—it is the right motive behind every action that pleases God.
A person can preach, give, serve, sacrifice, or even suffer for a cause, yet still be driven by pride, selfish ambition, the desire for recognition, or other wrong motives. God is not impressed by the size of our sacrifice if the heart behind it is not right.
Doing good is wonderful. Sacrificing our time, resources, and strength for others is commendable. But the real question is: What is the motive behind it?
If we desire God's reward for whatever we do, then we must first examine our hearts before we act. Jesus also taught that when we do our righteous acts just to be seen and applauded by people, we have already received our reward.
In Philippians 1, Paul said that while he was in prison, many became bold enough to preach Christ. Yet he also acknowledged that some preached Christ out of envy and selfish ambition, while others preached out of love. The message was the same, but the motives were different.
Finally, brethren in the Lord, as Paul often says, whatever service we render in the name of God, let our motives be pure, holy, and acceptable before Him. May our service flow from genuine love, for that is the kind of worship that delights the heart of God.
SHALLOM.........
I learned about motives some time ago, but while studying the Word of God today, I learned even more about them.
Two people can do the same thing for God—one will be accepted while the other will be rejected. The difference is the motive behind what they did. No wonder the Bible says, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
While reading 1 Corinthians 13 this morning, I came across the popular passage Paul wrote about love. In one of the verses, he said that even if a person gives away all they possess to the poor and even surrenders their body to suffering, but does not have love, it profits them nothing.
I read that verse over and over again, and one question kept coming to my mind: Isn't giving away all your possessions and sacrificing yourself already an act of love?
Then it dawned on me that Paul was not talking about the outward act alone. He was pointing us to the motive behind the act. As I continued reading the chapter, I noticed that love does not boast, is not proud, and is not self-seeking. That helped me understand that love is not just an action—it is the right motive behind every action that pleases God.
A person can preach, give, serve, sacrifice, or even suffer for a cause, yet still be driven by pride, selfish ambition, the desire for recognition, or other wrong motives. God is not impressed by the size of our sacrifice if the heart behind it is not right.
Doing good is wonderful. Sacrificing our time, resources, and strength for others is commendable. But the real question is: What is the motive behind it?
If we desire God's reward for whatever we do, then we must first examine our hearts before we act. Jesus also taught that when we do our righteous acts just to be seen and applauded by people, we have already received our reward.
In Philippians 1, Paul said that while he was in prison, many became bold enough to preach Christ. Yet he also acknowledged that some preached Christ out of envy and selfish ambition, while others preached out of love. The message was the same, but the motives were different.
Finally, brethren in the Lord, as Paul often says, whatever service we render in the name of God, let our motives be pure, holy, and acceptable before Him. May our service flow from genuine love, for that is the kind of worship that delights the heart of God.
SHALLOM.........
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