Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5, NIV)
Like you, I could start listing reasons to play golf today, and I would still be going when I run out of fingers. I’m not saying they would all be good reasons. In fact, some of them would probably be downright selfish.
And therein lies the trouble with me. Even when I am a judicious surveyor of my own heart, I gloss over my ill motives to go after what I want today.
But if I am more deeply open than that, I must gravely question my ability to at all be judicious. Consider this. I am thinking of doing an act of service around the house to “help my spouse”—the dishes, say, or laundry. How good am I at assessing my own motives for this action? I may choose to help because I see the stress she is under. I may choose to help because it makes me look like “a good husband,” something I strive to be (though in that very striving I do wonder whether I am satisfying my ego, the prevailing Evangelical standard, or the charge of a compelling pastor who has crossed my path). Or I may choose to help because I’m looking for something in return—a sort-of marital trade arrangement. Indeed, I’ve heard teaching at marriage retreats that my household help is a “turn on” to my wife. Am I in this for the sex?
Do I perform acts of righteousness because I am responding to God’s love for me, or because I’m trying to earn points with him?Now here is the odd thing. Forget the motive for a minute. No matter what, a helpful act is performed. We might even call it “an act of servanthood.”
Which still leaves me guessing, as does the biggest question of all: Do I perform acts of righteousness because I am responding to God’s love for me, or because I’m trying to earn points with him? Honestly, I usually don’t have a clue!
No wonder Paul wrote to the Corinthians to steer widely around guessing at the motives of others, and even ourselves. More marvelous still is God’s grace, which will somehow uncover enough pure motivation in our righteousness to praise us! That’s reason enough for me to keep doing good—in spite of my mysterious heart.
—
Jeff Hopper
Originally published January 7, 2011
Copyright 2011 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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