“All the ways of a man seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives.” – Proverbs 21:2 (HCSB)

We have before us today a thought that is both sobering and encouraging. It is sobering because each of us has been guilty of actions that have an appearance of righteousness, but were committed out of completely selfish motives. This is the problem Jesus addresses in Matthew 6:3 when he says, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” We are always in danger of doing things that appear righteous, while all the while seeking praise and adoration for ourselves. However, Proverbs 21:2 can also be comforting and encouraging. I know that, in my life, there has been many moments where I have acted out of pure and godly motives, but the results of my efforts have been anything but good. The truth is, we have control over our motives and our actions, but outcomes belong to the Lord. Today, maybe more than ever, we are confronted daily with a myriad of difficult and often convoluted decisions. In each of those decisions, I encourage you to stop and take a moment to do a “heart check.” Evaluate your motives, act out of a pure heart, and give the outcome over to God. Father, give us the wisdom to leave behind selfishness and manipulation so that we can act out of pure motives and see You bring about Your purpose in our lives.