MOTIVES MATTER

The houses built on rock and sand look the same. When we do what we do for God, living our lives for Him, we have built our lives on rock.  When we live for ourselves or to please others, we have built on sand. The house built on sand WILL ultimately fail.

All that we do in our lives, all the work of our hands, work at church, work with our families, friends, and others is either done 1) for God or 2) to bring attention to ourselves, making us feel better about who we are, or what we believe will advance our lives. Our attainments, the attention we receive, and our feelings are fleeting, sand under our feet, and are ultimately empty. When we do it for God, and things seemingly do not work out the way WE think they should, we can have peace in knowing God is pleased. After all, God is responsible for the results.

It is right in Scripture. Two identical houses, one built on rock and one on sand.  They look the same and perhaps for a long period of time are equally functional. But when trouble comes, the rain and wind, the house on an unstable foundation, the sand, fails.  

●    APPLYING THE PARALLEL:  What foundation are you building your life on?  Is it solid and lasting?  Or is it on worldly things that are sure to fail someday? "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:21) For example in the case of wealth being a focus, it can be lost, one can die without enjoying it, or one can look at what they prized and realize too late that it brought very little fulfillment.

What are a couple of things you give the most value to? Are they material things, your abilities, your position, or something else? If you lost that but still had all you needed to live, would your life feel fulfilled? If not, you may need to move toward a better foundation. Are you doing things ultimately for God's purpose or your own?  The answer will indicate how stable the soil is that you are building on. 

Consider the motivation for different tasks in your life. It could be your work, how you treat your family, friends, or others. Ask yourself, "Who am I doing it for?"  Make a list of what you spend your time doing.  Mark each as follows. Always for God, mostly, both, seldom, and never. Write out what benefit you get from doing it for yourself. Visualize all of that as building on sand. Think of times when you worked hard and weren't appreciated for it.

Who were you doing it for? Be honest. At times, we do it for ourselves, to receive praise, at times for others to try to please them, and even at times just to make our lives easier. If we are doing things for God, out of obedience, we should not even want anyone to even notice. We've already received His pleasure with us.

Write out any of the times you have done your "acts of righteousness" to have some personal reward or thanks. Visualize doing that act out of obedience to God. The next time you find yourself looking for a thank you or praise, stop, look upward, and at least with your heart say, "I am doing this out of love for you Lord."

●    Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Col 3:23-24)

●    "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Mt 25:40)

●    "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Mt 6:1)