Motives

Matthew 6 (ESV)

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

We must not focus on our own outward behavior to be right with God. Righteousness is not achieved, but received from God through Jesus. 

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Don't put on a display, so people will notice you. Our motive must be to be noticed by God.  To stumble and fall, does not make you a hypocrite, but a human being.  We are all growing to be like Christ.  What makes you a hypocrite is to wear a false mask.  Someone who pretends to be one thing, but is another. 

    

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

This is about giving to the poor.  Don't use your giving to control other people.  The motive is to give it as an act of worship to God. 

1. The condition of your heart matters to God.  

2. The condition of your heart will be the primary motive for what we do. 

3. The condition of your heart will determine your rewards.  "The why?"

Darryl Craft,Whitesburg Baptist Church

http://www.whitesburgbaptist.org/connect/messages/motive-means-everything/