What Is Your Motive?

“But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs. A lot of good they are to me—those worn-out wretches! [Job 30.1-2]

Oh wow.

Only God knows the human heart. Not Satan, not our acquaintances, not even we ourselves know what evil exists in our hearts.

I think for the first time I am seeing something about Job that God knew all along. In his pride, Job was expecting something in return for all his "righteousness." It shows up clearly in the verses stated above, "A lot of good they are to me..."

Job, as good as he was, seems to have had selfish motives in his goodness. He expected something in return (in like kind).

In all of today's OYCB reading, this expectation comes out in the tone of all Job says.

Man...

How many of us are doing the exact same thing? Except that not one of us is as good as Job, we still expect that we get something in return for what little good we do!

Jesus nailed it as recorded in the Gospel of Luke:

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” [Luke 17.7-10]

Particularly among "Full Gospel" people, Job's problem still exists today. We expect something in return for our devotion/faith/prayer. While the Bible is indeed FULL of promises to that end, we must guard our hearts from a life and walk of devotion to God SO as to secure those promises. Our devotion/faith/prayer should simply be our undivided obedience to God and His Kingdom without regard for "return." See the difference?

Devotion to God is NOT payment to get good things!

And yet, God stands ready to literally lavish good things on those who genuinely seek Him.

It is indeed a bit of a paradox, but therein is found real relationship. This is where the heart of man is known only by God. And this is where we can measure our own hearts: "What is our motive for serving God?"

CAUTION!!! Even Job "said" the right thing in the very beginning: 

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. [Job 1.20-22]

I am afraid it is all too easy to "say" the right things and "do" the right things for all the wrong selfish prideful reasons.

Father, help me to evaluate my motives in my devotion to You.