The Ultimate Test

Motives are tricky things, wouldn’t you say? Those invisible rascals are hard to determine, but we try to figure them out—in others. Motives are the why behind the what, and we feel we have to get to the bottom of them. If we estimate that others’ motives aren’t sparkling clean, we have a problem with that. I believe many conflicts stem from judging why “that person” just did or said what he or she did. We lower our estimate of that person—sometimes for good.

That is a rodeo the apostle Paul did not ride. Only he came at it from the other side. He experienced others’ questioning him, and he predecided he would not entertain those thoughts. Here’s why:

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1Cor. 4:3-5)

Wow. Paul didn’t even judge his own motives. He left it up to God who knows better than we do what’s in our hearts. I know it’s not very flattering, but here’s what the Bible says about our precious hearts: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer. 17:9) Paul got that. He just left it up to God to sort it all out in the proper time.

Here he just stripped away an entire thought pattern. What are we to do instead of “judging everything before its time?”

Well, knowing that God is going to have a look at everything when He comes and expose the hidden things—the counsels of our hearts, it would be a good idea to clean things up on the inside. It’s time to start casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5)

It’s also time to evaluate our thought life—considering it is up for evaluation and revelation when He makes His final judgment. Paul outlines approved thought material: whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. (Phil. 4:8)

Even with all that, we aren’t sure if our thoughts and hearts are acceptable with God. So here’s the prayer we ought to pray: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psa. 139:23-24)

I’m intrigued that Paul ended his teaching on the topic of God bringing to light hidden things of darkness with the idea, not that God would condemn man, but that God would praise man. I hope there turns out to be praiseworthy things revealed about my life. And by the way, what things does God praise man for? We will look at that next time.

Jody