Motive
This word is defined as “a reason for doing something, especially something that is hidden or not obvious”. I think understanding motive is critical to having integrity and honor in our treatment of others. I believe that people who follow Jesus should have motives that are obvious and in alignment with His call upon our hearts.
When Paul pens his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, he wants them to have context to his actions and his words. He wants them to hear from Him the reason he is so passionate about the message he brings. Check this out….
4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! 6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else. (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6 NLT)
When someone does something stupid or wrong and I call them out, I’m not speaking to their motive, I’m speaking to the action itself. I don’t always understand why people do crazy things -that is their motive. My motives are NOT secret to me, but they might not be obvious to others. The Lord definitely knows my motives and He is also The Judge. He knows if I’m simply being honorable to please people or to please Him.
I believe that it’s also prudent for me to NOT judge the motives of other people. When Jesus gave His famous sermon on the mountain top, He spoke to this. Check this out…
1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others.[a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 NLT)
The bottom line to all of this is my motive in serving others is because the Lord called me to serve them. He calls me to be humble, honest, honorable, kind, gentle and forgiving. It is not always easy when people are hateful and hard. He knows my motive in writing my thoughts down on this platform. I am simply trying to be a man who seeks God’s heart each and every day that I live.
Pressing On!
Dwayne