Check Your Motive

Check Your Motive

"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 6:1

Here the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking about motives. He's telling the people that when they do alms, that is, when they give to the poor, they shouldn't do it for the purpose of gaining attention or acknowledgement from others. In recent years, the internet has been inundated with videos of people giving food or money to the homeless and needy, often in creative, and sometimes dramatic ways. When seeming acts of selflessness are published and broadcasted for the millions of people online, it sometimes makes one wonder, "What are they really doing this for?" Are they purely trying to help those in need, or are there more selfish motives?

God not only sees our actions, He looks directly upon our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). Doing good and selfless deeds are great, but we ought always to make sure that our intentions are pure. In fact, everything we do should be done for the glory of God, and to see His kingdom expanded (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Perhaps we would benefit from occasionally asking ourselves, "Would I still do this good deed if no one were watching?"

We can never go wrong by sharing the love of Christ with others through acts of charity and service. Charity is the greatest gift we have as Christians (1 Corinthians 13:13), but if we go about doing good things with selfish motives, and if we do it all for the applause and recognition of men, then we have chosen our reward, and should not expect to receive one from God. He, who sees our secret good deeds, will reward us openly in His time, according to His Word and His will.

Matthew Bentely

Grand Bay, AL.

Matthew Bentley lives in Grand Bay, Alabama with his wife, Kaite, and their son, John. For nearly 10 years, Matthew served as a church pianist before answering the call to preach in May 2021. Shortly thereafter, he was called to be the associate pastor of Spanish Trail Baptist Church in Gautier, Mississippi. He was ordained and called to be lead pastor of Spanish Trail in November 2021 and is currently serving in that office. Outsdie of chruch work, Matthew holds a secular job with the mobile County Public School System, where he teaches middle school English and Social Studies.