3 Ways to test your motives

The way we as fallen beings treat each other is fraught with wicked intentions.  Pride, selfishness, and lust can subtly pervert nearly every interaction if we aren't diligent.  The hard part is discerning our own intentions.

How many times has something slipped out of your mouth that made you think "Why did I just say that?"

How many thoughts have popped into your head that defied logic and every good moral?

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. - Luke 6:45

The bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)  So how can we know that we are pleasing God in our conversation?  How can we test our motives?  Let me offer 3 ways:

1. Are my actions and words biblical? (Self Examination)
2. Do my actions bring me closer to God? (Living in the Spirit, Loving God)
3. Do my actions seek what's best for the other person? (Loving your neighbor)

Are my actions and words biblical?

We often much of our thought life attempting to justify our actions and beliefs rather than letting the Word and the Spirit challenge our assumptions and define our path.

There is a natural tendency to dogmatize and filter our beliefs, to focus on the "rightness" of our religious theology and traditions.  We limit our information sources and social networks to people who agree with our presuppositions.  Once the bubble of safety has been created we begin to demonize everyone who disagrees (whether or not they actually disagree).

When we think about our actions we must test them against scripture.  Hebrews 4:12 points out that the Word is able to "judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  We may tell ourselves that our actions were right and our words were truth and our intentions were noble, but did we act in obedience to the Word?  Did we pray and search the scriptures for guidance on how to act?  Did we go to our brother or sister in private first?  Have we dealt with the splinter in our own eye first?

LINK: Verses about Examining Yourself

Do my actions bring me closer to God?
(or Am I loving God?)

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 1 Corinthians 10:23

A sign of spiritual maturity is that we willingly put aside daily distractions and foolishness that hinder their relationship with God.  2 Timothy 2:4 points out that the soldier in active service keeps himself untangled from the daily affairs of life so he can please his commander.  An easy test of our motives is to ask whether my thoughts and actions bring me closer to God.

Do my actions seek what's best for the other person?

(or Am I loving my neighbor?)

The final test of our motives has to do with loving others,  seeking what's best for them even if it hurts you.  The second greatest commandment has a way of taking the focus off of ourselves, our own interests and focusing them on the other person.

We must be careful how we go about this,  often times we feel justified in shaming someone because we feel they need it,  but the way we go about approaching someone can be more important than the message we are attempting to communicate.

Seeking what's best for someone else is extremely humbling because we often have to endure backlash, insults, and anger, even if we do everything right.  But if we stay calm, consistent and gentle more often then not they will at least acknowledge that you are loving them.  They may hate the message but they won't kill the messenger.