Proverbs 16:2, “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.”
Something I learned early in recovery was whenever I was faced with a difficult situation, I was told to step back, and examine my motives by asking myself, “why am I doing this, and is any good going to come from it.?”  What we do is not as important as why we do it.Â
For example, I quit going to bars once I got sober, but there were times I went into bars in order to help someone in need. For the most part, I choose to not be around people who are drinking alcohol but if a family member or good friend is having a beer, it doesn’t prevent me from being around them and interacting with them. But, if they are drunk or impaired, I choose to not be around them because any chance of a worthwhile interaction is gone. In these examples, my “why” i.e. motive, was pure in both the Lord and my eyes. But let’s say I buy the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue because it is not considered “porn” because it is Sports Illustrated and the only time I buy a Sports Illustrated is when they have the swimsuit issue…I think the men reading this blog will understand what I am saying.
We can rationalize ourselves…to death…if we aren’t careful.Â
As I fast forward almost 24 years, I know today that my motives must line up with a simple mantra I developed several years ago. “May my thoughts, words and deeds always be an asset to God’s world.” Although I woefully miss hitting the mark 100% of the time, this mantra helps me to stay away from things I once rationalized myself into. I am still a work in progress, but my life is much more peaceful when my motives align with God’s, and I know he is always examining my motives.
Why are you doing the things you are doing today?
P.E.A.C.E.
