MOTIVES: God sees your heart

Described as the cause, intent, or reason for doing something. Motives are not seen or touched. They lie in the subconscious mind. The interesting phenomenon about motives is that it is linked to actions, so there are no actions without motives. In as much as actions are linked to motives, they do not always correspond. Thus, one’s actions may be contrary to his/her motives and vice versa. One can have the right motive but act wrongly, or the wrong action, but the right motive.

 In Genesis 4, Cain and Abel went to give an offering to God. Abel’s offering was accepted but Cain’s was rejected. The verse makes us know why Cain’s offering was rejected, And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering – Genesis 4:3-4. It seems to me that Cain went to offer just anything available to him. But Abel made intentional selections to offer to God. I think God saw beyond their offering. He looked at their motives. In terms of actions, they both did the act of offering, but I believe God saw their motives and based on it to accept or deny them.

You may do the right thing, but your motive for doing it may defeat its intents and purposes. Before you decide to do something for God or man, consider why you want to do it; do you have an ulterior motive that will selfishly benefit you?Having selfish interests and other reasons apart from what you portray to be the reason for an utterance, action, or decision means you have the wrong motive.

You may be deceiving those who don’t know your heart. But remember, God sees the heart and knows what lies in there because He tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4c). So if I were you, I would try my best to always do things with the right motives. Right motives save you from lies and guilt. Have the right motives!

May the Lord mend our nets!