Excerpt from the Greatest Command

This is just a part of what there is below, but something God's really been working on me about. First here's the passage.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” - Matthew 22:34-38

And sometimes our motives betray us.

“If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” - 1 Corinthians 13:3

So if I went to the street corner, and emptied my wallet to the man with a sign, then got online and transferred my savings to the Salvation Army, and then sold my house and gave the extra to the Red Cross, but did not do it with love, then it was all worthless. If you’re like me, your first thought would be, how is that? How is it that you can give up so much, and yet it does nothing for you? Because of your motives. It doesn’t matter how it looks, or who you give to, it’s the motive inside that counts.

For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." – 1 Samuel 16:7

To God, our motives are more important than our actions. Take a minute with me to think about your passions. What are you passionate about in your life? Do you look forward to your paycheck, the new episode of a television show, the next football game, time with your spouse, the vacation with your kids? What is it that you dream of during the day?

Now take those things and compare them with how much you look forward to some time alone with God?

Do they even compare?

When’s the last time you heard yourself say, “Honey, I’d like to go to that movie, but I just really want to spend some time in prayer”, or “You go ahead and start the show, but there’s a devotional I want to do”, or even “Can I do the dishes later, I’ve been waiting all day to get into the Word?”

Now think about times when you chose to do the right thing. Why was it that made you make that choice? Is it because you were taught that way? Is it because you want to look like a good Christian in front of others? Or is it because you would do anything for your Lord?

The choices we make, the time we spend, the things we dwell on; they all lead us to what we hold in our heart.