Last week I asked you to look deep inside yourself personally. We all need to ask ourselves the most basic of questions.

The question we all need to ask is, “Why am I doing this?” Am I doing this to be seen of men, to be praised, or to be elevated in position?

Jesus warned His disciples about the scribes and Pharisees: “Beware of these teachers of the law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished” (Luke 20:45-47).

Even the disciples of Jesus had to deal with the wrong reasons for service. James and John wanted positions of authority. The twelve once (maybe often) argued or discussed who was the greatest among them. Jesus reminded them that to be first is to be the last of all, that servanthood is the epitome of the kingdom of God.

It’s easy for the church to fall into the same trap.

For that reason, I want to ask all of us–the church–to ask a question. “Why are we teaching children, providing ministries like Celebrate Recovery, Special Needs, and Upward Recreation? Why are we building a new building?”

All of these are good ministries and good projects, but they must come from good hearts.

Jesus talked about our hearts and our attitudes. Good ministries come from good hearts.

As pilgrims journeyed to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, they would often sing or recite what we know as Psalm 24. This psalm asks a penetrating question.

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully” (Psalm 24: 3-4).

May we be a church of clean hands and pure hearts.