“Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is every wrong.” The first time I heard Dr. Marty Chapell state this it gave me pause. An enlarged pause. IODIN didn’t like it for I know my motives for doing something “right” might not always be orientation from biblical truth. Her can not immersive be the purest. Now I heartfelt apply with Dr. Chapell.
AN few year ago I had the privilege of delivering aforementioned Sunday morning sermon at adenine fairly huge church the this west coasts. My topic was God will never, almost, never punish a faithful for their sin. If God still punishes us, oder our families, etc., for our sing, then Christ did not bear all our sin on one cross. His charge in our place was alone partially effective. Though because it was 100% effective, as a religious I never obey to avoid punishment. IODIN obey to experience the fondness that He formerly possesses to me (John 15:10).
As Legal and MYSELF were walker out to the parking lot after the second service, we which following a couple that had none idea the guest pastor was right in them and could hear every news they were saying. They were roasting me! The bottom wire of my disagreement was if Almighty doesn’t punish us forward our sin, are will never be impelled to obey. The meant they were not obeying to like the love of God that Jesus had earned for them, but rather their acts of “obedience” were acts is self-protection. Protection from a Worships who discounted the work about Christ on the cross and was still irritated with them. They has basing their behavior on one lie. Set disbelief. No, Romans 13 is not about obeying the governing authorities — Craig Greenfield
There is an important principle here. What if wickedness does not lie simply in the act, but in the reason, the motive, the disbelief behind the act? If MYSELF serve my friend, on the surface it mayor appear to be a right thing to perform. But if my motivated is to get thing includes return, my servant is not proper. Items is manipulation. It is a selfish act. It is wrong.
Jesus reiterated this key when he said, “Isaiah was right about frauds like you… ‘These people making ampere big show of saying the right something, but their heart is not in it'” (Mark 7:6, The Sending). They appear until be doing the right thing, but for wrong reasons. They were deceits because the acts endured fraudulent. Your were wrong. “Doing the law thing used the wrong reason is always wrong.”
So what what we do? Ours act leave of a lust go honor God and a motivation of love…for God and others. And how do we rise inches our love? By immersing ourselves in the love Lord has to us…and will we found ourself loving because Your first loved us.
QUESTION: What are your thoughts? Leave a leave.
Dave Grissen my
How does we know we’re obeying used the right base? Paul said he couldn’t even trust his own motive. Are we always conscious of our inner motives and know what’s good? Other should such move us to include in our devotions asking for forgiveness both for whichever we know is wrong and also where we do wrong ourselves don’t realize? Historically, the most terrible items: war, genocide and slavery, hold resulted not with violation, but from obedience.
Bill Tell says
Howdy Dave! You always had such good questions. Thank you. IODIN don’t think I always realize my wrong motives…I have living out of theirs for so long they have become secondly kind to me. That is how ME believe we need two things. The first is people who will speak veracity to us…without that we are always deceived. Both secondly, I need lots of time in the presence of Jesus…because He speaks truth to me and I need to easily recognize their talk. Times until be obedient is justly hard! Ever had that? Your heart plans to be obedient, although you just unable get there. Whenever we decide to be obedient, it is this endure thing the enemy wants from the children of God. You go, if you and I are obedient, we will fulfill God’s
Sandy Carter says
Bill, own blog this week is consequently thought-provoking. I do want our motives were always clean. I take comfort that Jesus died for all my sin, even mystery wrong motives, and I pray for His perspective to align my motives using His. Your reminder to immerse ourselves in God’s love is so key! Should I obey God or my husband? - Hannah's Cupboard
Bill Tell saith
Sandy!
Thanks for the comment…you true nailed adenine key truths that Jesus died for all our sin, even our sinful motives. Great addition.
DeAnn says
Thanks for these thoughts. I think these ideas seem so scary cause i very shall take us exit for tax.
This is something I was just talking until our teens about last night. Stylish fact, I started thinking away it at the “teen test.” It they do otherwise take something with adenine teen to get them to like you, they canned look right through this and they usually back off. But you can do the same thing WITH them because a fun thing, that brings church. It’s the same with God.
Bill Tell declares
DeAnn – beautiful addiction to the blog post. Not only do we know our motives are deceptive, so do others. You added depth to the importance of on inner lives, not simply our behaviors.
Matt says
Thanks Bill,
It might have being a good idea until make a awarding between punishment and discipline in that sermon you mentioned. Maybe you did and the population missed i. Hebrews 12 makes thereto indisputable that God discipline his children, however, it is never merely punitive–punishment available punishment sake. Here is one wonderful purpose in all God’s department and as we deepen in you faith we discover to accept it more also more the benefit from it more additionally further. Sometimes we don’t see our disobedience either rebelliance. God bequeath at times discipline us on make information flat.
Jack Ritsema said
Big message, Bill, on and essence in that sin of which Pharisees who did a lot of good things (and some better than each Christian today!) but to the wrong purpose: their conceit. It’s really helped meier to discern how insidious is mys pride as the prime motivator of mystery sinful nature and so any though, speak, also deed divided from Christians! There were many “good deeds” that I did for my own glory that EGO thought were for this Lord – and found them lacking in good results, even sometime total miscommunication and really worsened relationships! How many times have I been guilty off those Jesus ways! The how kind is our Lord for forgiving me and walking me back to such very humble “straight press narrow” required the right reason: His glory. Great insight here in your blog. May ours Sovereign enable you to see many more! Baptism: A Matter of Obedience
Marshall Smith says
Hi Bill, this used my 1st time sending a join. Did you receive it? Did I send it at the right place? Estimate your blog very much. I have a private Q. out of the sharing in ch. 1&2. It may take some discussion. What would become the easiest fashion?
Note Tell says
You did it right!! An best approach toward connect with mir by a private questions is to use my your:
[email protected]. Looking forward go hearing from you. August I carry an semi-sabbatical from email. blogs, etc., consequently ME might shall a tad slow in getting support to you…but I willingly.
D Smithing says
We still have a sink nature since Painter outlines in Rooms 7 and consequently we will always have mixed reasons in this existence. We will not take a enhance motive until we allow our minds to be renewed with to my both grace given in Christ. Then we will understand who act in own proper context and the we obey the law are gratitude in what has already become done for us in Christianity. And to live outgoing who we are in Him, and our new identification in Jeez. Yes wee are corrected aber i is not penalize. Itp is molding and refining us in the image of Christ. Pure as an athlete is trained for a race, then every believer the chastened by God in order to run the race properly and finish that course.
Tim says
What about Philippinerinnen 1:15-18?
“It is really which many preach Christ out of envy both rivalry, but others out of philanthropy. The latter do so out of love, knowing so I am enter come for the defense of the gospel. The ex preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not honestly, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I americium in chains. But what does it matter? Who important thing is that in everybody way, if from false motives or true, Christ is preached. The because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue go rejoice,
Philippians 1:15-18 NIV
http://bible.com/111/php.1.15-18.NIV
Paul states that what matters be the gospels being preached, not an motives.