Motives Matterfeatured

Recently a friend shared a brief devotional on prayer based on Matthew 6:5-6: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

These verses have much to teach us about prayer, but I began to think about the matter of motives: what actually goes on in our hearts as we live our lives as disciples of Christ.  In the scripture above, clearly Jesus was not impressed with the motives of those who were trying to impress other with their prayers.

Jesus, of course, set our example.  In John 5:30 he says, “By myself I can do nothing; … for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” Paul also has a few words on the subject: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” 

These verses unequivocally tell us that in order to be effective disciples of Christ our sole motivation should be pleasing God. But like those hypocrites 2000 years ago, I have a problem with motives.  Maybe Solomon had me in mind when he wrote, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2). 

I find (and maybe you can relate) that I am not very fond of examining my motives. I like to superficially examine what motivates my behavior and declare it “pretty good.”  When I honestly scrutinize my motives (which, by the way, is painful), “pretty good” is rarely the appropriate description. All too often pleasing God is not my primary motivation. Even when I am doing what the world considers a good thing (participating in a service project, attending church regularly, or writing devotionals), my motives are often tainting with the desire to please myself or others. The desire to please God may be in the mix but often ranks a distant third.

God is teaching me I need an adjustment to my prayer life.  I need to frequently ask the question, “Who are you trying to please?” In order to accomplish that painful examination of my tainted heart, I need help. Romans 8:26 assures us that the Holy Spirit “…helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”  When we earnestly seek his help “he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

I like to think of the Holy Spirit as our prayer partner. He is always available and willing to reveal to us what is really going on in our hearts. This painting is titled “Prayer Partner.” I hope it will remind me (and you!) to access the one who is waiting to help us purify our motives.

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians beautifully articulates what happens when the desire to please God is our true motivation. 

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

This prayer was not just for the Colossians, it is for you and me. Let it be our prayer today!