When Motives Need Fertilizing
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
One spring day, three-year-old Douglas helped his grandfather fertilize the lawn. When the job was done, Grandpa placed two shiny quarters in his grandson’s small hand and proudly asked, “Well, Douglas, what do you think?” Looking down at the money, Douglas quickly replied, “I think it needs to be done again, Grandpa.”
We smile at the honesty of a child, but if we are honest, we may see ourselves in that moment. It is amazing how quickly our motives can shift. What began as simple help can turn into a desire for reward. What began as service can subtly become self-serving. The heart is deceptive. We often justify our actions as pure, but God does not merely examine the deed—He weighs the spirit behind it.
Even in ministry, generosity, or kindness, we can quietly begin looking for applause, recognition, or “two more quarters.” The Lord is not only concerned with what we do but why we do it. Jesus warned against doing righteous acts “to be seen of men.” When fertilized, pride can grow quickly. But when we serve out of love for Christ, unseen and unpraised, there is a reward far greater than coins in our hand.
Ask God to search your heart and purify your motives so that you serve Him for His glory, not for personal gain. Choose faithfulness over recognition.
"The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory." — Psalm 64:10
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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