Check Your Motive II

‘For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another’ Ps.75:6-7

‘People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives’ Prov.16:2. It is very easy to drift into believing that your promotion depends on man because that is when people begin to do strange things. ‘They went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming to help me. I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!” But Balaam responded to Balak’s messengers, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God.’ Num.22:16-17. You would expect that he next thing Balaam would say would sound something like: “In fact, if you are not careful, I am going to demote you”. You know Balaam can demote the king? But instead Balaam’s response was, ‘But stay here one more night, and I will see if the Lord has anything else to say to me” Num.22:19. But you see when you don’t know who you are and you allow greed [what can I get, me too I can finally have a blackberry or drive a four wheel drive] to corrupt your heart then it darkens your spirituality. Then the donkey begins to see sharper than the prophet.

I once had a man visit me, his colleague apparently fellowships with us and he claimed he had heard a lot of good things about me. I said, “Great! So how can I help you?” He went on to say how by the help of God he had secured a good job, a good house, and a good car. So the next move for him was to get married and settle down. He had three girls before him and he wanted me to choose one for him to marry. Guess what the Holy Spirit was ministering in my heart to tell him. What if it is none of these ladies? So I told him it was not likely that any of the ladies before him would be his wife. And he said, “It has to be one of them because I have invested in all three of them”. So this young man was spreading his tentacles. He was casting multiple bets and expecting God to flow with him. God does not work like that. But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve’ Jer.17:10. What is your motive?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, cross-examine my motives and my heart and purge me of all that does not glorify You, in Jesus Name.