“We didn't have any hidden motives”
This pointed statement may be a response to accusations from the Jewish leaders who had stirred up the crowds (Acts 17:5). Paul did not seek money, fame, or popularity by sharing the gospel. He demonstrated the sincerity of his motives by showing that he and Silas had suffered for sharing the gospel in Philippi. People become involved in ministry for a variety of reasons, not all of them good or pure. When their bad motives are exposed, all of Christ's work suffers. When you get involved in ministry, do so out of love for Christ and others.
While I thorougly agree with you that we should only get involved with ministry as an outflow of our love for Christ and others, I have seen some people misuse this concept as an excuse not to do things. I once heard a woman say that she could not make meals for others because she did not think her motives were pure.
ReplyDeleteIn instances where you are meeting a practical need (i.e. bringing a meal to someone, clothing the poor, or visting someone who is ill or imprisoned), pray that the Lord would help you to have the right motives, but still serve the body of Christ.
When we are meeting a practical need and obeying God's command to serve one another, instead of choosing not to serve, we should confess our wrong motives, ask God to help us repent, and then ask that He be glorified.
I do not wish to misapply Scripture (Phil 1:15-18), but if the woman concerned about her motives made a meal, I think that a family in need who was served that meal would be more conscious of the goodness and faithfulness of God in richly providing their needs and would be giving glory to God. Philippians 1:15-18 says "Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice."
My point is not to do something regardless of our motives. I am saying that if we have wrong motives, we should confess them and repent, and then move forward as God directs.
Lord guide my actions so that You always shine through all of my human motives. Though I am broken and living in a broken world, may the fact that You live inside me be my strength and compass.
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