stephen R Harrison

Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? – Proverbs 20:6

Actions are easily seen, but motives can be well hidden. Eventually, motives are discerned through actions. It’s hard to see a man’s motives until he shows them through his words and ways. If you don’t like your motives being questioned, perhaps you need to change your actions. However, you can do the right things with the wrong motives. Sometimes people do nice things for others only to gain an advantage over them. Some are kind because they want to be seen. Doing the right things doesn’t change one’s motives. Motives are a matter of the heart. It is God who searches the heart of a man. Others may be able to see your motives through your actions and learn to trust them through what you do, but God sees a man’s motives before any actions are done. A Proverbs 20 man must have a righteous and blameless heart before the Lord. 

A few years ago, I was counseling a couple who had gone through an affair. The husband worked with a woman with whom he was attracted and eventually committed adultery with her. As I met with them and advised them on how to heal and work towards forgiveness and restoration, he seemed to desire help and reconciliation with his wife. As I was talking, he kept typing on his phone. I asked him if he needed to make a call so he could be fully present in the marriage counseling, and he replied, “Oh, I’m just taking notes.” His wife called me the next day and said he was texting and flirting with the other woman during our counseling session! His actions seemed suspicious, but he covered it up well – until his real motives were discovered. I’ve learned that our motives always come to the surface.

In Proverbs 20:5-9, Solomon addresses the motives in a man’s heart. A man’s purposes or motives are deep waters (5). To gain proper insight, you must draw those purposes out. What do you use to do this? Proof is needed. Solomon said many claim to have unfailing love (6). We can say one thing and mean another. “Unfailing” means sincere or tried and true. Love that can be trusted is rooted in character. It’s one thing to say you love someone, but everyone wants to know whether you mean it. Solomon gives us the solutions to ensuring genuineness in motive. Faithfulness (6) and blamelessness (7) are two of the “buckets” that draw and test the deep waters of a man’s heart. A man whose actions are pure, consistent, and above reproach verifies the righteous intentions he claims are in his heart. 

Other ways to draw out the heart’s motives are found in verses 8-9. A man proves his righteousness through his actions, but also through the way he makes decisions. “When he sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes” (8). He weighs every decision through the eyes of the Lord and His Word. He quickly dismisses choices that involve evil. A Proverbs 20 man should reach a point in his walk that he can see right through evil immediately. He looks at his options and instantly knows which option pleases the Lord. The Proverbs 20 man wants to answer verse 9, “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure. I am clean and without sin’?” He wants to say, “I can,” and have others believe him. Our motives are expressed through our words and actions. When we allow God to change our hearts, He will change our motives to match His. As He does this, our words and actions will flow genuinely from a pure heart.

Questions to Ponder

1. Are there any impure motives behind your actions?
2. Do you try to fool others about the condition of your heart through actions like kindness and patience? Do you think people believe your actions are sincere?
3. What verse stands out the most to you?
4. What other questions came to mind?

Actions to Take

1. Think about your last conversation or action towards someone. Ask the Lord to reveal your motives through these questions.
   • Did you seek their best interest or your own?
   • Were your words manipulative?
   • Did you expect your actions to invoke a specific response?
   • Were your actions based on Scripture?
   • Was God being praised?
   • Did the Holy Spirit bring conviction or correction?

2. As you read Proverbs 20, what verses, phrases, or words impact you?

Scriptures to Read

Proverbs 16:2, 17:22, 19:21, 21:2-3

Prayers to Pray

Jesus, help my motives to be pure and righteous. I desire my words and actions to be genuine. Help me seek the best interest of others before myself. Keep me in your Word so I know your heart. Change my heart to be like yours. Convict and correct me when my motive and actions do not reflect your glory and nature.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.