Okay folks, this is going to be a lengthy one, but it has to be talked about.
And that is “Motives”
What do you think about when you hear that word?
What’s the first thing that pops up in your mind?
Well, whether your thoughts are good or bad when thinking on this topic, we all have them..
Good or bad, underlined, or face front, we all have them…
There will always be some type of motivation behind the reason why we do or say what we do …As well as act the way we do.
Is it possible to live a life with nothing but God like Motives? I think so.
However, this also goes hand in hand with having a pure and loving heart like His. This happens when you confess Jesus as Lord(Ezekiel 36:26)
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
How pure is your heart?
I bet you would love to know what God sees when He searches your heart, wouldn’t you?
I mean, Just to be able to see if your heart and motives are really as God focused, God geared, and God characterized as you think(Psalms 26:1-2 )
Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.
Okay, so how pure are your motives?
This will let you know a lot about that heart of God your carrying around on the inside of you..Yep, your motives!!
Are your motives God – like(which are pure and love focused) “or”World – like which are (deceptive and selfish? ) ((Matthew 12:35)A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
Let’s see what the definition of Motives is, before going any further, so there will be no misunderstandings..
“A Motive is the underlying reason for any action. … Pride, anger, revenge, a sense of entitlement, or the desire for approval”
Definition from Bible Colation…
“It is something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive. The goal or object of a person’s actions.”
Now that you know the definition, let me give you something to think about. And be honest with yourself.
Let’s just call this portion “Food For Thought” or Self, Concerning Motives…..
Have you ever done something nice for someone, but all along had underlined motives behind why you did it?
Have you ever given someone something with the high hopes of expecting to get back what you gave them (with interest)?
Have you ever done something that you knew was not of God, just to fit in and be like everybody else?
Have you ever spoke to people about God, in the presence of other God fearing people, only to look and sound good?
Do you ever do good things for others just to be seen by others, to feel good about yourself, or to get a pat on your back by someone else?
Do you. pray to be seen, so people will think you’re Godly or Spiritual?
Have you ever said or done something for someone you didn’t really want to do, but did it anyway to make yourself appear Godly?
Have you ever gone to a Bible study for wrong reasons? Maybe because you had your eye on one of the members, or perhaps to get free food out of it, rather than to learn about God and how to get close to Him?
Have you ever worked with a Christian organization for the purpose of getting paid, or receiving something material out of it?
Have you ever pretended to be reading or praying when someone entered your room to seem more “Holier than thou”, knowing you were sleeping instead?
Wow! I know that was a lot, but what do you think God would say concerning you and each question asked?
What would He find, if He searched and tested your heart & motives, for the reason, you do what you do
(Jeremiah 17:9-10) “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.
”Can you honestly say all of your acts of kindness have had no underlined agenda when it comes to you, and the things you do for God, or the people He uses you for? (1 Thessalonians 2:4 )But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so, we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Just remember that when your motives are pure and God-centered, you’re able to love people with His kind of love (Agape) and see them the way He sees them.
Your motives behind serving Him just becomes, so much more authentic when you’re God- minded all the time.
Can we get deep and personal for a moment?
Come on I know none of us are perfect, but we can be and stay motivated by the love He shows us and pass it forward toward others…
Yes, with no secret motives, just 100% God mindedness!
And, how? How can we make sure for ourselves that our motives behind doing Godly acts for others are honest and true?
Can we come to some type of agreement, that only the Holy Spirit residing on the inside of us, is the only One that can replace our motives to become pure and righteous like God’s?
And, that, that happens only when our heart becomes One with His? (Galatians 5:16)So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
If you’re in His Word, it’ll teach your heart how to love, think, and respond genuinely from the inside out. With no AGENDAS!!
If we now stand aware and completely knowledgeable on what the definition of “Motives” are, there should be no reason why any questions of, how or why, is coming into your thoughts.
Right? ( Romans 9:20-21)Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?”
There honestly should be no pressure – building moments, where you should be second guessing doing unto others as God intends you to, when He moves you to.
This is what God centeredness looks like….Being joyful and selfless, motive free for anything that’s God lead.
Unless it’s self motivated!
(Galatians 5:16)So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
And, you should never be so self-focused to the point where you are self analyzing yourself(Proverbs 16:18)Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
No, not to the point of overthinking your motives.
When the real focus should be on God and how you can become a better example of Him.
The more you stay God focused, with your mind and heart on Him, the more righteous your motives become.
Allow the Holy Spirit through the Word of God to get you and your heart to a better place in Him. To that place where you’ll never have to second – guessing your motives again!! (Psalm 143:10) Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
God has a great suggestion! just ponder upon this scripture right here (Galatians 2:20)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The more you can focus your mind on God and His character traits, the more your motives will become more pleasing to you and for Him, to others.
Honestly, what that Intel’s, is you stop trying to be entangled in this world’s way of doing things. And, start conforming to God’s way, which helps your motives to become more consistent.
So, if you’re waking up in the morning and your motivation in the morning, is like, “okay, I have to stay busy and get things done whether I want to or not” (or) like, “ Aww, man” I have to meet with “such and such” today, so let me at least act the part….(or) like, “okay” let me go pray with these people to give them a hope that they know is impossible…
I guarantee you!!
That, that so called attitude and wanting to be so busy for the wrong reasons, has nothing to do with God (how can I say that) this is how… because in His word He said in( Galatians 6:9)And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Yeah people, even in our attitudes towards a thing!
Trust me, our motives of the heart are known and seen by God.
Yes! He does look at our attitudes and intentions as well…
You may be able to disguise your true heart, feelings, disposition, and motives from most, but trust and believe, you can not hide them from God!
So, if your motives and heart is not pure towards the things God is using you for, close down shop!
Go to God and let Him know your heart( He knows it anyway) (1 Peter 5:7)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
and allow Him to minister to you until He gets you right, cause He’s not blessing you for your selfish acts….
Be Blessed….
Host Of Angels 