A Rightly Motivated Heart (October 25, 2023)

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.” (Proverbs 21:2)

When a serious crime is committed and a suspect is arrested, investigators search to identify a motive in the case. All human behavior is driven by motives that underlie our actions. The real reasons that we do what we do can be obvious or obscure. The Bible says that the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. So those of us seeking spiritual maturity need to frequently examine our hearts to make sure that our motivations are pure and pleasing to an all-knowing God who weighs our intentions. We must seek to please God, rather than man!

“I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)

Many people are motivated by selfishness and pride that prompt them to pursue fleeting worldly gain, self-gratification, and other earthly priorities, neglecting to develop a personal relationship with God that has everlasting value. Even the good deeds that we do in service to other people and the LORD are sometimes driven by self-serving motives. For believers pursuing a Christian lifestyle, a regular inventory of our thoughts and intents can help to ensure that our hearts are rightly motivated by humility and love worthy of God’s blessings and eternal rewards!

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:3)