Isaiah 58:6-9 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked to clothe them, and not turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I."
Why are you doing what you are doing? What are you seeking? Approval from people? Approval from God? Are you seeking attention? Or perhaps you're seeking an award? Are you doing things because you really want to? Or maybe you're doing things because that is what is expected of you? It's great to do things for others, it's great helping out and serving, but sometimes we need to search our heart and honestly take an inventory as to what our motives are.
The way we treat others has an impact on our hearts, our souls and our spirit. If we're kind to people just because it's expected, that's a false motive. If we're doing something to get noticed, that's a wrong motive. When we help someone or serve someone, we need to do it without expecting a "Thank you". Oh yea it's great to get a "thank you" but make sure you're not doing it just to hear that. We often feel very disappointed or even angry when we do something and we aren't thanked. We often feel like, "Well I'll never help them again, I didn't even get a proper thank you." Sound familiar? I have heard well meaning people say this and it saddens me.
Let me explain it this way: what if God acted the way we do? What if every time God did something for us and we didn't thank Him, He would throw a fit? "Well, I'll never bless Debra again, I didn't even get a simple thank you." Seriously people think about it!!! What are our motives behind what we are doing? Is it to honestly help others or is it for our pride?
Okay maybe I should talk about family, our own flesh and blood family. Are we so busy helping the homeless, helping others and giving to others that we neglect our own family? God clearly states that we are not to turn away from our own family. "Honor your mother and father" does not say only if they treated you right. It does not say as long as they were loving parents. It doesn't say as long as they gave you everything you wanted. God wants us to treasure our families as dysfunctional, imperfect and as messy as they can be. Sometimes pastors and people in ministry get so involved helping others, they neglect their own families.
God want us to check our motives. Why are we doing what we are doing? To get our name in the paper? To get your face on the 6 o'clock news? To get an award you can hang so everyone can see how giving you are?
Okay now I'm going to challenge you, why aren't you doing what you should be doing? Why aren't you willing to give up some of your time, money or possessions to help someone else in need out? Seriously think about that for a moment. Are you willing to go the extra mile to help someone in need? Are you willing to give the coat off your back to a homeless man? Are you willing to forgive someone who may not deserve your forgiveness? Are you willing to give your last $20.00 to someone who can't afford the groceries they put in their cart?
God's light will shine forth from us only when we do things with a right motive. God's love will pour out of us and onto others when we get ourselves off our mind and begin thinking of others first. There are so many believers living weak, pathetic and pitiful lives because they do things with a wrong motive and a wrong heart attitude. It's not all about me! It's about others! It's about what God wants us to do! Get rid of our pride! Get rid of our selfishness! Check our motives!
God want us to check our motives. Why are we doing what we are doing? To get our name in the paper? To get your face on the 6 o'clock news? To get an award you can hang so everyone can see how giving you are?
Okay now I'm going to challenge you, why aren't you doing what you should be doing? Why aren't you willing to give up some of your time, money or possessions to help someone else in need out? Seriously think about that for a moment. Are you willing to go the extra mile to help someone in need? Are you willing to give the coat off your back to a homeless man? Are you willing to forgive someone who may not deserve your forgiveness? Are you willing to give your last $20.00 to someone who can't afford the groceries they put in their cart?
God's light will shine forth from us only when we do things with a right motive. God's love will pour out of us and onto others when we get ourselves off our mind and begin thinking of others first. There are so many believers living weak, pathetic and pitiful lives because they do things with a wrong motive and a wrong heart attitude. It's not all about me! It's about others! It's about what God wants us to do! Get rid of our pride! Get rid of our selfishness! Check our motives!
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