Know Your Motive

We can never be sure of the motives of others, but God sees the heart.  Motive is the difference between a word of encouragement and flattery, from manslaughter and first-degree murder.  Motive is the difference between a gift and a bribe, the difference between being genuine or manipulative.  When Samuel looked upon Eliab the son of Jesse with approval, God spoke of the importance of the heart in 1 Samuel 16:6-7:  "So it was, when they came, that he [Samuel] looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him." ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  Appearance may convince men, but God is not fooled.

It occurred to me sometimes we can fool ourselves - despite the conscience God has sovereignly placed within us.  How gracious He is to send the Holy Spirit to convict, help, comfort, and guide us into all truth.  As we read God's Word, the Holy Spirit applies it to our hearts.  One verse can be a healing balm, another a sword which pierces us through.  Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Even a seared conscience is revealed as tender inside when the sharp sword from Christ's mouth slices like a razor through the thickened exterior.  He does not cut with His Word to injure, but to promote repentance, healing, and wholeness.

We should think before we speak, and our motive ought to be carefully considered.  Words have the power to build up or throw down, to strengthen or undermine.  Proverbs 20:9-10 says, "Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"? ¹⁰ Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD."  The use of diverse weights and diverse measures implies an effort to deceive.  Unethical traders would tamper with their weights to affect business transactions in their favour, receiving too much money for too few goods.  It is important our words are carefully weighted with God's truth.  We are responsible to ensure our lifestyle matches our words, we do not show partiality, or act differently around certain people we hope to impress.  So much in the life of a Christian boils down to motive.  May we be transparent and teachable before God as it is written in Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."