The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. – Proverbs 20:5
What makes a “good” action done by an unbeliever different from an obedient action of a believer? How can an unbeliever, who cares for widows and orphans, be told that their actions are not inherently good? Why does God say our works are as “filthy rags” when the society around us says they are good (Isa. 64:6)?
The moral value of our actions are always determined by our motives. One can be pleasant only to gain good standing with others. One can sacrifice for others expecting something in return. Another can be helpful in order to obtain the next “helper’s high.” Motives determine whether the fruit of our lives are plastic and decorative or juicy and sweet.
If our motives are so important then we must constantly examine them. This is not always an easy task as figuring out our motives can be deceptive and misleading. Our hearts are “deceitfully wicked” and they regularly throw us off the scent of our motives (Jer. 17:9). Proverbs 20:5 claims that if we have understanding then we will seek to examine our motives constantly to see if the fruit in our lives are real or fake. The action can look exactly the same on the outside, but if our actions are for selfish gain then we must repent of it quickly.
As believers we are able to now do “good” actions for the glory of God. That is the real definition of a good action, anything done for the glory of God. May we seek to search the deep waters of our hearts and with understanding examine our motives.
Pastor Jamie
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