[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during May 2022]
Can we, as Christians, be accused of having ulterior motives? The question arose as a result of interacting with various groups of people endeavouring to help refugees from Ukraine.
Most people, of course, are motivated by genuine humanitarian concern, without any expectation of compensation or reward. Within that group are those who would acknowledge some religious motivation, Christian or otherwise, as well as those who would not claim any such affiliation. At the other extreme are those whose motivation is to exploit the situation, seeking public acclaim, aiming to make a profit or hoping to manipulate people in difficult circumstances.
Various passages in the law given via Moses show that God forbids the exploitation of the poor because of their need[1]. The prophet Amos issued a dire warning against those who were taking advantage of the needy. At the time of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem Nehemiah discovered that wealthy citizens were exploiting their countrymen by lending at usurious rates of interest, something which is distressingly familiar today.
In 1770 the French writer Voltaire wrote that “God is always on the side of the big battalions”. By contrast, many references in the Psalms and Proverbs show that God is on the side of the poor and needy; those with dubious motives will incur his displeasure.
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to warn them that when Christ returns he will disclose the motives of men’s hearts[2]. Are you ready for a full disclosure? Will your motives withstand interrogation?
Certainly as Christians we do have a superior motive, in fact two.
The often-quoted passage in Matthew[3] describes the consequences of helping or not helping those who are hungry or in need. Jesus said that those actions, or inactions, are in effect as if they were directed towards him. These activities are not a way of earning enough credits to get into heaven – we have already been credited with righteousness – but they are a way of demonstrating our gratitude.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5 v16 [NIVUK]
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6 v10 [NIVUK]
Our second motive is that we want those whom we are helping to come to faith in Jesus too. This is indeed a noble motive but runs the risk of being misunderstood. Are our congregations judged by their quantity rather than their quality? Are we aiming to increase our standing in some form of ‘conversions league’? We are called to be fishers of men; do we nurture the ‘newly-netted’ or immediately cast the net out to catch another?
We would do well to remember that when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment he replied with not just one, but two. The second was to love our neighbour as ourselves. Taking that command seriously should remove any doubts about our motivations.
[1] eg Exodus 22 v25, Deuteronomy 15 v7
[2] 1 Corinthians 4 v5
[3] Matthew 25 v31-46
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