Motive Matters

Our family was reading through 2 Kings 7 after dinner tonight and we found the conduct of the four lepers in the passage ironic and amusing.  Whilst the famine in Samaria had become severe due to a Syrian siege, these blokes were literally waiting around outside the gates to die from disease, starvation, or at the hands of cruel enemies.  They discussed their meagre options and decided to throw themselves on the mercy of the Syrians.  The worst thing that could happen was their demise, and given their hopelessness it had some appeal.

After making their way into the camp they were shocked to find it completely deserted.  Unbeknownst to them, God miraculously caused the Syrians to hear the sound of a great army and they fled for their lives.  2 Kings 7:8-9 says, "And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. ⁹ Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household."  While people in Samaria had literally resorted to cannibalism, these lepers ran from tent to tent like Templeton the rat in Charlotte's Web, feasting and hoarding loot for themselves.

Suddenly one of the lepers addressed his fellows:  "Hold on a second, boys.  Today is a day of good news, and if we remain silent we'll be in big trouble.  We need to tell the king!"  And they did.  Their motive in reporting their discovery to the king was not because they loved their friends and family within the city walls, because they had compassion on starving people, or because they had gathered enough for themselves:  they acted out of fear of punishment.  Truth be told, they reported it for their own sakes.  I wonder how many of our deeds which seem thoughtful, considerate, or generous are bourne out of our own self-interest.  When our flesh calls the shots with ourselves as prime benefactors, let us not be tricked to think we will be rewarded by God for it:  surely we have our reward.

Consider the motive for Jesus going to the cross to save sinners in obedience to the Father mentioned in Hebrews 12:1-2:  "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Jesus always did the will of the Father and rejoiced to do it.  His humanity begged the cup pass from Him, but Jesus humbled Himself to the death of the cross.  He understood that when He submitted Himself to the will of God it would result in pain but joy would be the ultimate result.  Had the motives of Jesus been selfish, He never would have gone to Calvary.

Our motives matter, and the scripture applied by the Holy Spirit exposes the thoughts and intent of our hearts.  By God's grace He places within us power to both will and do His good pleasure.  We ultimately benefit from this arrangement as much as anyone, for we enter into the joy of the LORD.