Motives

Motives

Proverbs 16:2(NIV)
All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD

I think that is a legitimate question to ask ourselves as we go about our daily lives.  Not only what motivates us to do what we do and act like we do, but also what are our motives for our relationships? How we treat people?  Why we do things?

Many times we can do things with selfish or self-seeking motives, using or taking advantage of people, especially people we are supposed to love and trust.  We do things only with the intention of holding it over their head, or to get something in return, or to get infomation, or hold it aginst them, or to get something out of it ourselves.  That is no  way to treat anyone, especially people we love.

I have had people do me a favor, then bring it up when they wanted me to do something for them, like I owed them, even though their favor to me was unsoliciated.  We will be nice to people at school or work to get them to do our work for us or make us look good.  We will take advantage of relationships and parents will use their kids and kids use their parents and husbands their wives and vice versa not for the greater good or love, but for selfish or self-centered reasons.

Our motives in life, especially for those who desire to be a Christian and live for God need to be pure, holy, sincere, and honest.   As Christians we help people for God's sake and never expect anything in return.  We are to love people and treat them fairly, honestly, and respectful and not in a way to use them, exploit them, take advantage of them, or walk on them.

There is not a worse feeling in the world than feeling used or betrayed or manipulated by someone, especially by someone you are supposed to love and respect.  This behavior turns into a lifestyle and does not honor God.  I would be bold enough to say it's sinful for us to have impure or selfish motives in any relationship.

I think the desire for anyone is to be treated with love, dignity, respect, and our best interest in mind and in return we do the same thing for others.  We love people the way God loves us and the way God loves others.  The greatest command given when ask to God was this:  "Love God, Love Others."  You cannot fulfill either with you have hidden or secret motives that are selfish.

I want to encourage everyone reading this today to have pure motives.  Let God motivate you to be a good person and treat people honestly and fairly.  To love others and to not expect anything in return when you do something for someone.  Do not do anything for selfish reasons or treat people selfishly.

Philippians 2:3-4
³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.