Why do you do what you do?
It takes time to measure our motives. When we take inventory of our actions, we walk the complicated road of coming to terms with the darkness in our lives.
You can do the “right” things — serve others, read your Bible, pray, attend church, lead your organization to the next level, create content, encouraging others — for the wrong reasons. These “right” actions can affirm our pride, focus on pleasing other people, incite an addiction to success, or bring to the surface different unhealthy motivations.
Jesus makes this statement in Beatitudes of Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Dallas Willard in the Divine Conspiracy says the Beatitudes answer the question, “Who lives the good life?” Consider how a pure heart invites us to a good life. We no longer have to live with pretense from ourselves or others. We discover the freedom of right actions with no strings attached to outcomes.
Ultimately, the pure in heart experience the Gospel. The Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection brings our motives to the light.
Our vision transforms to see what Jesus has done for us and others. The brokenness once afflicting our right behaviors becomes redeemed to glorify Jesus and love our neighbors.
So today, take inventory of your actions, behaviors, and priorities. Invite Jesus to shine the light on your motives for doing them. Ask yourself, why am I doing what I am doing? Confess the darkness of your life while asking for a vision to see Jesus.
Photo by Gianni Zanato