The author of Hebrews says, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12). The word of God is ... "able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Does that concern anyone? I mean, we can do things to look good or appear righteous, but the text says the Word can judge thoughts and intentions. How important is that?
Jesus said, "I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court" (Matt 5:22). In terms of sin, "intent to commit murder" is murder. Jesus said, "I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matt 5:28). Biblically, intent to commit adultery is adultery. You see, intentions reflect the real person under the cover of acts and actions. Jesus said, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders" (Matt 15:19). Sin is spawned by the heart. Our intentions go a long way to determine if it's sin. Scripture says, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Sam 16:7). In 1 Chronicles we read that God "searches all hearts and understands every intention of the thoughts" (1 Chron 28:9). God knows your intentions. And intentions are not neutral. They are the seed of every action. So, for example, speaking in tongues or prophesying or giving to the poor are useless if the intention isn't love (1 Cor 13:1-3). Intentions are critical.
Two thoughts, then. First, God knows your intentions, good or bad. And He can use it. Joseph told his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good ..." (Gen 50:20). Your intentions may be sinful, but God can use them. You aren't the end of the world. Second, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick" (Jer 17:9). We have sick hearts, and are, therefore, unreliable in evaluating our intentions. We need the Word. The Word tells us our primary intention should be to love God and love others. How are you doing? The Word tells us we're to glorify God in everything we do. How are you doing. And, we need God's examination. David prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way" (Psa 139:23-24). A good prayer.
3 comments:
Absolutely. I've been arguing that doing "good works" with wrong intentions or motivation, isn't what YHWH wants from us. He seems much more concerned with intention than with action.
Despite that, He can use anyone or anything to fulfill His plans and purposes regardless of our intention or action.
It's amazing that we serve a God who can take our bad intentions or bad actions and still use those for good.
It is because intent matters that we can agree with Scripture that even our good works are as filthy rags if they are not meant for the glory of God. The world tells us people are basically good, and it is true that most people are basically law abiding. But does obeying the law because you don't want to suffer the consequences the same as obeying the law because you think the law is good? Intent matters, and anyone that says otherwise is fooling themselves and denying Scripture, which is our default setting.
My initial response to this post was, “Whoa, Stan. I might get angry with someone, but I don’t intend to murder them! And God knows I would not do that.” But after mulling it over, I realize that “I would not do that” mostly because I control my emotions enough to live peacefully in a society with laws and repercussions. Otherwise, I might indeed act out upon my feelings with no qualms (like many a subject of a news report or “Dateline” TV show these days). Of course it is true that our actions are prompted by our hearts’ intentions--that’s how the human brain and body function together--and the fact that there is violence, lawlessness, unrest, etc., all around us proves that our hearts are full of evil intentions, just as you say. Now, I might be able to control my actions well enough to stay out of legal trouble, but if God judges my thoughts and intentions, I am thoroughly doomed. Honestly, how do people not run to the Savior?
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