Let me share with you a personal “log in the eye” and how it is something I still see as problematic in the body of Christ.

Years ago when beginning with Christ in the music industry I had what a friend and I talked about yesterday as much “ambition.”

Ambition can be good, but it can also be wicked.

In full disclosure, I had to come to grips with a heart motive that was not honorable to God. Every time I passed out a music album there was a secret motive to “further myself or gain exposure.”

When the Lord began to deal with me on this He showed me the reason He created the music. For His glory. In that, were also His plan and His way. So I stopped awhile passing them out simply because I didn’t trust my own heart and I wanted that self-serving motive in my heart to be crucified.

Eventually, the Lord honored it with an open door, but my heart was forever changed and that motive resisted I am so glad to say!

It was a critical lesson for me so that today I would understand each album is a tool for a needy heart rather than a tool to further my own agenda and heart motives.

This same wicked and self-serving motive happens today with people and connections.

We latch onto people not for real and authentic relationships but so that they can “take us somewhere.”

I’m going to lovingly tell you that this is not the way of Jesus. It shows a deeply rooted lack of faith in His plan for your life. It will also cause much severing in your relationships, and you will end up losing wonderful helpers and encouragers in the Kingdom work.

If I always have an “angle” I am always using people. Using them to serve my own needs, further my own ministry, and Kingdom, and not really dealing with others honestly.

This type of deception can be very subtle but super dangerous in your heart.

Safe relationships aren’t built on hidden motives or secret ambitions. The body will naturally work together through Christ, but we mustn’t build things (or even ministries) on the backs of God’s people.

People who are being steered by this behavior will keep grabbing hold of others as long as they are accomplishing the hidden heart motive. Once that is no longer met, they will move on from you and look for other unsuspecting hearts who love to help or even become upset with you for not meeting their hidden expectation.

Of course, rarely do we look inward at our own “log in the eye.” We love to blame others.

Trouble is-Jesus knows the full truth of what’s hidden in the dark…and He loves us way too much to let us stay the same.

If you find yourself struggling in this pattern of heart behavior, ask the Lord to break it in you so that you can be a trusted ally and friend. Not just for others but also for Christ Jesus.

Integrity will lead you to success, but treachery will destroy your dreams.

(Proverbs 11:3)