Motives

Proverbs 16 says all of our own ways seem “pure” to us, but the Lord weighs our “motives.”

That’s a tough pill to swallow, as my mom would say.  We do things, react to people, and go about our day, feeling justified in all of our actions and thoughts.  But He looks at the reason behind what we do.  Not to bash us, but to bless us!

The next verse says if we commit to Him whatever we do (that’s a huge invitation to let it all go!) then He will establish our plans.  He not only leads us but he establishes and settles us!  That’s a huge commitment back on his part, just in return for us giving up control to Him.

The giving up control is the hard part.  We somehow see God as this judge who checks our heart all the time, only to see the holes and bruises, and to shame us for not  meeting His standards.  But in all of the Bible, God’s character shines through in that He is a loving Father who wants only the best – and that’s His “motive” for checking us out.

We can trust that when our motives are weighed and we are found wanting, He comes along and fills the holes and gaps so that we are good to go…whatever we do.