Right Things, Right Reasons

Bulletins

Michael Hickox
11/17/24 - General

In James 4:2, the inspired writer told Christians “you don’t have, because you don’t ask.” This statement infers the importance of frequent prayer.

If we read on in James 4 though, the Holy Spirit has more to say about prayer. Verse 3: You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. This verse teaches that why we pray matters (cf. Matt. 6:5-8). It’s important to pray, but our reason for praying is just as important.

This principle applies to many of God’s commands. Pleasing God requires doing the right things for the right reasons.

Consider the scribes and pharisees rebuked by Jesus. He said of them “they do all their works to be seen by men” (Matt. 23:5). Self-exaltation was their motive.

While some do good things to be regarded highly by others, others only refrain from evil things to keep from being viewed lowly by others.

Instead, we should refrain from sin because we abhor evil (Rom. 12:9). Doing what is right should be motivated by a wholehearted determination to please God (cf. Rom. 12:1).

There are a handful of questions we could each ask ourselves to examine our motives. For instance, we might ask ourselves: do I pray with a desire to better serve God and others? Or do I pray with the desire to “spend” what is received on my pleasures (James 4:3)?

Do I give with cheerfulness? Or do I give with a begrudging attitude (2 Cor. 9:7)?

Do I study God’s Word with a desire to know the truth and apply it as God requires? Or do I study God’s Word to “win” an argument or justify myself?

Do I assemble with saints with a desire to praise God and edify brethren (Heb. 10:24)? Or do I assemble with little concern for the spiritual significance of the occasion?

Do I show hospitality out of genuine concern for others’ well-being? Or do I do so to “check a box off the Christian to-do list” and grumble about the time and effort it takes (cf. 1 Pet. 4:9)?

These are far from the only questions we might ask ourselves in consideration of our motives for what we say and do, but they serve to exemplify the need to ensure that not only our outward deeds are right, but that we do the right things for the right reasons.