What are your motives?

Proverbs 16:1-16 

² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

⁴ The Lord works out everything to its proper end—
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.

⁵ The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

⁷ When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain with injustice.

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!

Are you getting a head of the Lord?  Have your plans been approved by Him?  Well, take a moment from your busy schedule to ask the Lord for guidance, knowledge and wisdom for all your plans if you want to succeed.  And, I don’t mean success by how the world sees it, rather, by how the Creator gives it. 

 

Many times I have made this mistake, and refuse to continue down this path.  Whatever your plans are, whatever your heart desires inquire first with the Lord, who better than He to bless your path, to bless your future.  Your plans are on God’s list whether he approves it or not.  Sometimes, in the moment of excitement, we don’t see God’s plan for our lives, however, we still have enough wisdom to know that we first run it through the Lord, as we know he continuously reviews the motives of our hearts.  God is not focus on what you do or not do; his focal point is determining why you are doing it, and what is driving you to do it?   What are the motives behind your plans!

Resist doing things your way, and God will ensure your plans succeed.  If your plans are great as you think they are, God will agree with you, as we know that the Lord works everything out for his purpose, not ours.  Well, if you think about it, you only want God’s purpose in your life, not yours.  God rejoices when we ask for his guidance and walk in righteousness through his son, Jesus Christ.  

How clear is Solomon in Proverbs 15:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”  Absolutely, we are to make plans for our future, we should have aspirations, however, whatever the case, God approves it.  He sees right through your heart.  He knows your thoughts, the reasoning behind your plans, he knows it all. 

Proverbs 15:13, “Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.”   The Lord is the scale and balance of your life.  He measures how far you will get with your plans.  Everything you have planned for (weights in your bag) will be authorized according to the measure of His will. 

I ask again, what are your motives?  Do they measure to God’s will?  Better yet, how far have you gotten on your own?

+EWSF