All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
Another way to say this in modern terms might be; don’t fool yourselves, God knows.
Many act as if we couldn’t get through the day without at least one good rationalization.
Let us be honest with ourselves, most of our choices in life are determined by what we care about at the moment. People in relationships tend to measure the wants of their partner in making decisions.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
The wrong kind of love can lead to unhealthy choices for both. Eros love is not one born of the heart but rather desires of the flesh. Philia love is measured and waivers as the scales are tipped by selfishness. Ludus love is playful, flirtatious, and holds no sway in making serious decisions. Agape love is perfect love that only God can perform perfectly.
Agape love can only work through us if it abides in us and is the sole basis of our choices.
God honors choices where the motivations of the heart are based on His indwelling love.
John 14:24
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
John 21:15
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 John 2:10
Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
When we love Jesus with His abiding love, we love what He loves. That is motivation.