What’s Your Motivation?

23 Jun

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'”  (Mt 7:21-23)

Televangelists really bug me.

Don’t get me wrong.  There are some, I believe, who are relatively legitimate.  There are many more, however, who appear to be in it for themselves and not for the Lord.

Time and time again we have heard about a televangelist who amassed huge amounts of wealth and did not use a single penny of it for anyone poor or needy.  Rather, they used the money on their own pleasures and their own pursuits.

“Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?” is going to be their complaint.  I can imagine a very angry Lord calling them evildoers as He states He never knew them.

Motive is so important in our lives.

Why do we do what we do?  Do we do it for the Lord or do we do it for our own gain?  Do we do the things we do and say the things we say so that we can benefit, so that we can become well known, so that we can amass wealth?  Or, do we do the things we do and say the things we say to build up the people of God?

God knows our hearts.

We might be relatively, if not quite, successful in fooling people here on earth.  We can never, however, fool God.

FAITH ACTION:  What kind of good are you planning to do today?  What is the reason for your doing that good?  Is it to build up the people of God and to please the Lord?  If not, rethink your actions and/or your motive.