Motive is everything
"And if anyone gives even a cup of
cold water to one of these little ones because he is My
disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose
his reward." Matthew 10:42
God is glorified by obedience to His will in LITTLE things.
They most glorify God, who, without the often false
incentive of outward and ulterior motives, gladly perform
their humble, unostentatious deeds and services--which are
unacknowledged and unapplauded by the world. Such,
assuredly, will not be unowned or rejected by the Great
Recompenser, because they have nothing better or costlier to
offer.
Motive is everything with the
omniscient Heart-searcher! And He is satisfied, if we
fulfill with a good conscience our apportioned place and
lot, however lowly that may be.
The little firefly, illuminating its little sphere, is one
of the tiniest lamps in God's magnificent Temple of night--a
mere 'glimmering spark' compared with the nobler Altar-fires
of moon and stars, in the same great sanctuary. But that
tiny insect is content to shine with the luster assigned to
it, in its humble place in the universe--and the Creator is
glorified by it.
"She has done what she could," is the divine word of
approval. The 'widow's mite' and the 'cup of cold water' are
owned and accepted by God. And the 'intention' and 'desire'
would be accepted, if there were no mite and no cup to give.
- John MacDuff, The
Story of Naaman the Syrian
