Ideally, we’re motivated to do the right thing from the purity of our hearts. But often we want to do what’s right, while some of our motivations are also less than honorable. All the same, we shouldn’t hold back doing what’s right just because we have mixed motivations along the way.
For instance, after we’ve graciously forgiven someone, it’s natural to want them to offer this same grace to us. On the one hand, we want to freely forgive just as Christ has forgiven us. At the same time, there’s part of us that wants to forgive only if the other is willing to do the same.
We’re called to love our enemies. But there’s still a part of us that wouldn’t mind seeing them suffer a bit along the way. Even in marriage, with the wife we would die for, there might also be moments in which we want to rub her nose in an issue when we’re right and she’s wrong.
Whatever it looks like, we’re often a mixed bag of motivations. But we exercise our freedom by deciding which motivations to give the greater weight. And while we might be working to overcome feelings of pride, vengeance, unforgiveness, or the like, this doesn’t have to stop us from still putting into practice kindness, love, and forgiveness.
In short, doing what’s right doesn’t have to wait on our perfectly consistent motivations. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, part of us might be torn regarding what needs to be done, but we ultimately submit to God’s will all the same. We can be honest with God regarding our mixed motivations. But this doesn’t excuse us from doing what’s right.
In the end, continue growing toward purity of heart. But don’t let your mixed motivations stop you from doing the right thing along the way.
