The Motive Monster
If you’ve even loosely followed the Oscar Pistorius case, there is a fascinating and intriguing aspect that speaks to our human and sinful nature. I actually wrote about this very concept in numerous places throughout The Knight’s Code.
Pistorius’ trial isn’t about whether he killed his girlfriend or not. He admits he shot her through the bathroom door. The trial is about motive. Did he intentionally want to kill her in anger after an argument or did he believe she was still in bed and an intruder was in the bathroom? That’s about motive. What was in his heart?
For all of us, the real burning question regarding our own actions is not “what” did I do, but “why” did I do it? When sin occurs in an outward action, or better said, an acting out, it is quite obvious to ourselves and anyone impacted that we committed a selfish, self-serving act, but the real question remains…why did I do that? What drove that action? What was my motive?
I firmly believe the enemy loves to keep us enthralled and embattled with stopping our actions. He likes to keep us focused on the “what,” so we won’t ever get to “why.” Because the answer lies in the “why.”
Take a moment and consider your own areas of disobedience, especially those that are chronic, meaning you tend to deal with them weekly. Spend some time asking yourself, while also praying for the Lord to reveal, the “why” behind the “what.” Consider these questions…
1—What need am I trying to meet when I act out in this?
2—What do I expect to gain when I act out in this?
3—What’s my true motive for this action?
Digging past the surface, peering into the heart, going beyond the vicious cycle of action-guilt-forgiveness-repeat has to happen for any sin to be addressed.
If Pistorius had said he didn’t kill her, the approach of the trial would have to be completely different. But he took care of the “what,” so now the court focuses on the “why,” as to whether he is guilty. Let’s take a lesson from this current event and man up to our “what’s,” then go deep with God to uncover our “why’s,” so we can be the men He desires us to be.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. —1 John 1:8-10 NLT
1 comment
Frankie Rainey March 11, 2014
Thanks, Robert. Keep on calling us to go beneath the surface. We need that encouragement! Frankie