Motives

I've recently been mulling over my motives. Motives for being kind, being generous, being modest, being wise.

In my own heart, I know I am none of the above things on my own. But I love it when everyone else thinks I am. I love it. For example being kind so that everyone is like; he's such a nice guy. Or being wise, so that everyone looks up to me and thinks, oh he's so smart, and he really understands things. Those motives are all wrong.

While being kind and generous and modest and wise, are not bad things, its more about how & why I do them. If I do them so people look at me, and I redirect them to God, to bring glory to God, then I think thats good. But I don't do it. My life should be about bringing about glory to God, but I'm selfish and I want the glory.

I also recently had to think about why I was a Christian, I was challenged by 1 Peter 3:15 - 'Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have.' What was my answer? To gain this prize, this kingdom that I will receive, I mean who cares about this world, when I get the better one? I often forget that 'the whole duty of man is to serve God' - Ecclesiastes 12:13. Not to greedily await his day. I should await his day, with mounting excitement, not greed.

The WHOLE duty, not just when I'm around Christian friends, or when its easy, or when it makes me look good. It is my WHOLE duty to serve God. In EVERYTHING I do.