Motives Matter

"All a man's ways seem right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the motives." Prov 16:2

 

I had to take a break from the hot takes of social media this weekend. The constant reel of emotion, conflict, and even shaming weighed on my heart as much as anything else happening in America. So many voices claiming the corner market on "what's right."

If I compiled a list of how we should respond or how we should react according to the influencers on the internet, it would be long, contradictory, and ultimately impossible to follow. In the frenzy of the emotion of a horrific tragedy that was captured on video and shared all over the world, a battle ensued over who should be the next amplified voice. It's almost as if we now believe that the louder and more unyielding the voice, the more right the person behind it.

This led me to question some things. The first being why we would ever be tempted to believe that it's cowardly to be quiet and examine our hearts, particularly in the midst of the shock and grief of such a tragedy? Why would the first response from outspoken Christians to something this horrific be fear-baiting, shaming, and finger-pointing? If we are as near to the heart of God as we claim, how can we so instantly and harshly accuse brothers and sisters that we don't even know of negligence while they are still trying to process the thing that just happened?

While I can't answer any of these questions with surety, I can say what some of these voices lack in wisdom, they sure make up for in volume. And sometimes it is necessary to turn off the noise and turn up the introspection. Because the God that we defend so vigorously searches the motives of our hearts.

It's our motive that determines whether we are truly right.

"As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work - which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a good conscience and sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk." I Timothy 1:3-6

Our ultimate motive must be love. And while I know that love tells the truth, it also does its best to do it in a way that can be heard by the loved person.

Are we desiring for everyone to come to the full knowledge of the truth?

Or are we more focused on destroying our opponents?

Do we recognize in ourselves all the areas where we still fall short?

Or do we believe its other people who are still falling short?

Do we remember the grace and love that were so freely offered to us in the process of our salvation, justification, and sanctification?

Or do we expect that shame, anger, and judgment will draw people to Jesus?

The love of Jesus is the most powerful force that is available to us in this temporary life. When people experience the love of Jesus, you can't keep them from building their lives on it and sharing it with others. Love is what changes hearts. Shame, anger, and judgment only harden them.

One of the first things that Jesus did when He began to walk me on the path to healing from anxiety and panic was teach me how to accept His love. I'd been a Christian for almost 30 years before I truly believed that I was valuable to Him. If the enemy can steal our belief in God's love for every person on earth, he turns us into nothing more than clanging symbols. We can make some loud noise, but nothing happens...nothing changes.

We can't wage war like this world wages war. As believers, we are called to a better way...a more effective way.

Love.

It's the motive God gave us to filter everything through... what we say, what we do, who we listen to, who we follow.

They will know we are Christians by our love.