Much of the Time It’s a Matter of Motives

Do you enjoy reading murder mysteries or watching detective shows on TV? There’s always the crime, then the sleuths arrive to examine the crime scene. For the remainder of the show, book, or program they sift through three basic questions: means, opportunity, and motive.

They work to locate or at least identify the weapon used in committing the crime. Then they compose a list of potential suspects, determining who can be connected to the scene at the time when the crime was committed. But sometimes the most complicated element for solving the crime is the motive. Why did he or she do it?

 

The idea is that people don’t commit crimes without having some rationale or motive for doing them. But this is true not only for criminal behavior. It’s a valid consideration even for the good things that people do. 

 

We might do an act of kindness for someone, for instance, to gain their favor. Students have always been known for buttering up their teachers and professors, hopeful of receiving better consideration for their grades. As law enforcement officers would say, “That’s motive.” The same could apply for a husband might brings flowers home to his wife. He might be doing so to atone for something he did that upset her. Or he might be seeking to get her in a good mood when he tells her of his plans to take a fishing trip with his buddies.

 

Sometimes very good things are done to receive public recognition. Years ago, I worked for a Christian ministry and a wealthy donor decided to give a very large contribution to support the work. He didn’t do so anonymously, however. He traveled to the ministry’s headquarters to present the check personally – and to have his photograph taken as he was handing it to the organization’s president. In the newspaper business, we called that the “grip and grin” photo.

 

Our motives can often be revealed – or concealed – with our speech. Who doesn’t appreciate compliments? But we need to be cautious when confronted with unexpected and perhaps unwarranted flattery. The Old Testament of the Bible has much to say about this. For instance, Psalm 12:2 says of the tactics of ungodly people, “Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.” 

 

Psalm 55:21 offers a stern warning that even seemingly good friends can betray with kind-sounding words: “My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.” Evil intentions harbored inwardly may be disguised but ultimately, they will be revealed.

 

Proverbs 26:24-26 provides a vivid description of this, someone who seems to be saying the right things but clearly is being guided by the wrong motives: “A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.” 

 

Motives are of special interest to God. We can do good things; noble things. We can help the poor, talk with people about Jesus Christ, teach a Bible class or lead a small group, contribute financially to worthy causes, serve our congregations in ways that are commendable. We may even receive the accolades of many for our actions. But what concerns the Lord most are our motives – the why of what we’re doing.

 

Two verses from Proverbs make a similar observation, stated a bit differently. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2). “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2).

 

And Proverbs 17:3 asserts, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” If we’re doing the right things but for the wrong motivations – if our hearts aren’t in the right place – God isn’t pleased.

 

The book of Acts gives a powerful example of someone desiring to do good things but not for the right reasons. A man named Simon was practicing sorcery in Samaria and receiving a lot of attention. However, he discovered Christ’s apostles were performing many wonders he couldn’t even have imagined. He wanted in on the action:

“When Simon saw the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ [The apostle] Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God…’” (Acts 8:9-24).

 

We can become overly introspective to a fault, but sometimes it’s good when engaged in doing things that could be described as “Christian work” to ask ourselves, “Why am I doing this? Am I truly doing this for God’s glory – or am I doing it to make myself feel good, or so others will think well of me?” How we answer could be revealing.