6月5日

標　　題：神衡量你的動機

經　　節：人一切所行的，在自己眼中看為清潔；惟有耶和華衡量人心。（箴言十六章2節）

我們很容易馬上質疑別人的動機，卻很遲鈍地質疑自己的動機！當別人傷害我們，我們可能假設對方居心不良。當我們得罪人，通常會找藉口，包括認為其他人太敏感了！不管我們如何監管自己的動機，神以祂公義的尺度來衡量。想以我們的敬虔自以為義來欺瞞神，是徒勞無益的，因為祂看到我們的內心深處。

人可不可能做好事，卻懷有不正確的動機呢？當然可能！你可能參加敬拜的儀式，你的心卻遠離神（以賽亞書一：10∼17）。你是否可能看起來關心窮人，心卻悖逆神？猶大就是如此（約翰福音十二：4∼8）。你是否可能豪放地表達自己對基督的愛，事實上是在幫撒但的忙？彼得曾經如此（馬太福音十六：21∼23）。你是否可能向神獻祭，卻完全不順服神？掃羅王曾經如此行（撒母耳記上十三：8∼9）。你可不可能為錯誤的動機祈求？雅各說，你可能會如此（雅各書四：3）。

我們身旁許多事會影響我們的行為。我們可能被一些好事所推動，像：對神的愛、熱情、慷慨與信心。我們的行動也可能由不健康的動機所激發，如：驕傲、沒有安全感、野心、情欲、貪婪、憤怒、恐懼與傷害。我們甚至可能懷有最糟糕的動機，卻做出一件最美好的事。當主衡量我們的動機時，祂看一樣東西：愛。我們的所作所為應該是為了愛神與愛人（哥林多前書十三章）。花時間檢驗自己行為背後的動機，求神讓你看到祂是如何檢驗你的動機。

God Weighs Your Motives

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. (Proverbs 16:2)

How quick we are to question the motives of others, yet we are so slow to question our own! When others harm us, we may assume the worst of intentions. When we are guilty, we often excuse our offenses, concluding that others are far too sensitive! Regardless of how we monitor our motives, God weighs them in His scales of righteousness. It is futile to try to deceive God with our pious justifications, for He sees our hearts.

Is it possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason? Of course! You can attend worship services with a heart that is far from worshipful (Isa. 1:10–17). Could you show concern for the poor and yet have a heart that is opposed to God? Judas did (John 12:4–8). Could you make bold statements of love for Christ and actually be aiding the work of Satan? Peter did (Matt. 16:21–23). Could you offer sacrifices to God and be in total disobedience to Him? King Saul did (1 Sam. 13:8–9). Could you pray with the wrong motives? James said you can (James 4:3).

Many things cause us to do what we do. We can be motivated by good things, such as love for God, compassion, generosity, and faith. Or our actions can come from unhealthy motives such as pride, insecurity, ambition, lust, greed, guilt, anger, fear, and hurt. It is even possible to do the best things based on the worst motives. When the Lord measures our motives He looks for one thing: love. All that we do should proceed from our love for God and for others (1 Cor. 13). Take time to look past your actions to what lies behind them. Ask God to show you what He sees when He examines your motives.