Motive

"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives."

~Proverbs 21:2 HCSB

What motivates you?  What really moves you to do something?  How many of us set out to do something and something starts to feels wrong.  We started with the best intentions and we realized we were being selfish. Or we watch a politician who says all the right words and then later you find out what really was his motive.  Motive is what drives a person to do something.  In the criminal investigation television shows we are always seeing the detectives trying to piece together the motive a person had to commit the crime.  What made this person do the things he did to obtain or carry out an act.

Motive is important.  Motives drive us to accomplish great things or sometimes bad things.  What motivates you will define your character.  To understand motives we have to understand something about ourselves.  We are motivated by what we treasure in our hearts.  An example this might be, we make plans that on the outside looks like we are helping others but in reality we are seeking the approval for our actions.   What is treasured in our hearts is not helping people at all but to hear others say how wonderful we are.  

People see the action and make a judgment based on what we have done.  God on the other hand sees what is in our hearts.  God knows what motivates us.   We all struggle with sin.  Sin wants us to give into what we want.  Our desire for sin starts in our heart and motivates our behavior.  God knows this and is the only one who can change our hearts.  He did this through Jesus Christ, who took our sin upon Himself in order that we might have a relationship with God.  In this relationship God changes our hearts, He changes our motives.  God gives us a new treasure in our hearts, Himself.  When we seek God as our treasure we find a new motive for our lives.  Our joy is no longer found in sin, but in righteousness.  He gives us a new set of motives and changes us from the inside out.  Only God can do something so wonderful!  

Lord change my heart.  Lord give me a new treasure to motivate me.  Lord help me to treasure you above all other things.  Lord change me from the inside out and let the world around me glorify you.  Amen