Scripture
You may believe you are doing right, but the Lord judges your reasons.
~Proverbs 21:2
Quote
Good intentions do not sanction bad deeds; neither do bad intentions sanction good deeds.
~Anonymous
We all have a pride problem and our pride leads us to believe that we are always right. Bill and I had a good discussion coming back from Nashville last Thursday. Bill and I agree on a lot but we don’t agree completely which means Bill is wrong about somethings. Just kidding, it means that Jack and Bill are wrong about somethings. Because of our pride, we believe we are on the right path, doing the right things and thinking the right thoughts. There is only one solution to our prideful mindset and that is the word of God. The bible is a mirror, a powerful mirror that reveals our error and sin. Hebrews 4:12 reads…For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Solomon said in Proverbs 16:2…People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. You can hide your intentions and your motives from others but you cannot hide them from God and He judges us not by our actions but by our motives. The Pharisees were wise in their own eyes, they were convinced of their own righteousness but Jesus called them hypocrites because their inner motives did not match their outward profession.
I picked up my devotionals Saturday morning and began reading [I read two daily] and both convicted me of sin. One centered on the distractions of the world and the other on the misuse of the tongue. I sat there feeling guilty about both. The guilt was so overwhelming that I had to go ahead and pray before doing my bible study. Then during my bible study, I was convicted again and had to stop and pray again. I don’t trust myself and I have learned to question every motive. The flesh is tricky and I’ve learned not to trust it. After Harold Thompson’s COLS, I was standing at the grave side talking to a pastor and one of his deacons. I said, “Isn’t it about time for you to take a week of vacation so I can fill the pulpit for you?” He had a strange look on his face but went to fumbling for his phone and said, “Yes, matter of fact, I will be gone June 24. Are you open that day? I said, “I’m wide open.” The next morning, I’m doing my bible study and I feel convicted about my boldness to basically ask for an opportunity to preach. I sent the pastor a text apologizing for putting him on the spot. Why did I do it? Why did I basically beg for an opportunity to preach? What were my motives? How many of you think that there might have been a tad of selfishness in my request?
Motive is everything to God. He always looks at our heart. Bad motives corrupt the best of our deeds and intentions. Some of us are credit hogs: we do good things for others but we want the credit. Every time I let the cat out of the bag, when I divulge my part in some alms, I hear that little voice in my head say, “Way to go Jack, you just lost your reward.” There is no reward when we do things to impress men. The only reward we get in that case is the swelling of our pride when someone pats us on the back.
March Madness went viral. I think we’ve had more madness than I can remember. Two of the best teams in the country get beat by 20 points {Virginia and North Carolina} and the highest cede in the South is Kentucky as a #5. Texas AM lost four times to Alabama and Auburn and they play like National Champions while Auburn and Alabama get blown out of the gym. I didn’t think anyone could do worse than Bama and then Auburn played horrible. I know all the Auburn fans had rather I not pull for them because when I do, they get beat. Hey, I pulled for all the SEC teams, even Tennessee. At least we have two in the Sweet 16. If Texas A&M could continue to play like last night, they could win it all. I think Villanova is probably the team to beat. Kentucky has the best shot at making the final four.