Characters Crucible
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you . . . for I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. 1
But when he (Jesus) saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 2
Truly those who want to care for the sheep purely out of compassion, without self interest are quite rare. For most of my walk I have struggled with this very issue, having a motive to do God’s work partially to gain approval from others. It is totally biblical to do things for God to be seen by him, and be rewarded by him for it i.e. the Sermon on the Mount; but the exact same verses condemn doing the same things to be seen by men. On the face of it, the situation can seem hopeless, is it possible to purify our motives? We find that “The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?” 3 Is there someone, or something else that can purify our hearts?
Proverbs tells us the refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. 4 In the same way that gold and silver are purified, our hearts can be purified, but instead of being melted in a hot furnace or crucible, they are refined by God himself. He does the work of purifying. How does he do it? The answer is found in scripture once again. You have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 5 The scripture declares that God refines and purifies us through trials.
God often gives young believers a vision for serving God, before they have the character necessary to do it faithfully; then God begins leading them through trials and testing so that the dross of self interest is gradually removed, our hearts begin to resemble his, and we begin to find ourselves motivated by compassion rather than ego.
1. Philippians 2:19-21
2. Matthew 9:36
3. Jeremiah 17:9
4. Proverbs 17:3
5. I Peter 1:6-7
Amen Austin. I would only add that since we are fallen creatures our motives will never be fully pure, because we will never be fully pure until we have been translated into the next life without sin and blemish. But thanks be to God in Christ Jesus that through his atonement he also purchased and purified our works, so that we can confidently serve our God.