One of the ObeyGC2 values is that work is love-motivated.
Motive counts. Love is the motive God looks for. Love is demonstrated by obedience. Our “good works” from any other heart is worthless. Isaiah 64:6a says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Doing the right thing for the wrong reason or out of a heart not submitted to God is not doing any good. Obviously, every one of us has a mix of motives and none of us truly knows our own hearts completely. God is willing to continue to work in us to mature us and overlooks less than stellar motives just as He overlooks other sins, as long as our heart is submitted to Him. If we want to please Him, we need to check our hearts and commit ourselves anew to doing His will.
Matt 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
1 Cor 13:1-7
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
