2 Min Message - Motives matter

Motives matter. Most of us think that we're doing right, most of the time. But few of us really examine the motives which are behind our decisions and our choices. Proverbs 21:2-3 say this, ''All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.'' In his book, ''Let your life speak'', Parker Palmer tells of a time when he had the opportunity to become the president of a small college. In order to help him think through this decision, he invited a few friends to get together with him and talk it over. One of them asked him a probing question. ''Parker, what would you really like about being president?'' He thought it over and he said, ''Well, I wouldn't like giving up my teaching or my writing. And I wouldn't like the politics of the position. And I certainly wouldn't like having to glad hand people I didn't respect just because they have a lot of money.'' His friend pressed him a little farther and said, ''But Parker, that's not the question I asked you. I asked you what would you like about being president?'' After thinking it over, he was embarrassed to admit, that the thing that he would really like the most about being the president was simply to see his picture in the paper and with the word 'president' under it. After a few more awkward moments his friend said to him, ''Parker, can't you think of an easier way to get yourself in the newspaper?'' So start shining a light on the motives behind your decisions. Choose to do, not just what seems expedient or smart or safe, but instead, choose to do what is right in the sight of God and man. What motive is driving one of your decisions right now?