Saturday July 2, 2022.

Serve With Pure Motives.

Scripture Reference: John 12:1-8.

Exposition:

‘Motive’ simply means a reason for doing something. Motives are usually hidden in people but they are what drive their actions. In our reading, Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus, was the keeper of the money bag. Judas Iscariot, like the other disciples, left his vocation and followed Jesus to share the gospel in all the villages and towns. Unfortunately, Judas’ motive for following Jesus was impure.

When Mary took an expensive perfume to pour on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair, Judas Iscariot objected and criticized the gesture. His reason for chastising the woman was that the perfume could be sold and the money given to the poor.

However, in John 12:6, the Bible states that Judas Iscariot had a different motive from what he said; he “did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it”.

Dear friend, what is your motive for coming into leadership in the church, in your institution or organization? Are your motives for holding leadership position borne out of love and sacrifice, or for your selfish gains and ambitions?

Our motives cannot be hidden; they will be exposed with time. In the case of Judas Iscariot, he took bribe to offer Jesus Christ to be crucified for thirty silver coins (Matthew 26:14-16). In Matthew 27:3- 5, Judas could not spend the money; consequently, he committed suicide when his ulterior motives began to haunt him.

Prayer Guide: Dear Lord Jesus, please search my thoughts and my heart and reveal to me any ill-motive for which I serve. Help me to maintain a clean heart in my service.

Memory Verse For This Week:

Mark 10:45 (NIV) – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.