What is your motivation for following Jesus? Is it for personal gain, or is it driven by devotion to Him? People can profess loyalty, a belief in Jesus, but their actions express something else. Jesus saw this played out in the temple. “And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables (John 2:14, NASB).”
What was the motive of the people selling in the temple? They were not like the woman who put two small copper coins into the temple treasury (Luke 21:1-4). “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on,” Jesus said (3-4).” The people selling and the money changers in the temple sought to profit in the temple, not give all they had.
It’s important to discern the motives of people, particularly in matters of faith in Jesus. There are people who will follow Jesus at all costs, and there are those who will profess faith in Jesus, but are distracted by the things of this world. Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Luke 16:13).”
There are so many things that distract us in this world. It is one thing to profess faith in Jesus, but another thing to live it out each day. It is a process of transformation where we need to drive out the things that do not honor God. “And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple (John 2:15).” Paul reminded us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).”
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. – John 2:23-25
140 Character Christian 
Blessings Chris for encouraging each of us to honestly reflect upon our own motives behind our faith.
Praise God for patiently guiding us as we mature in our faith. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
These are powerful words indeed: “There are so many things that distract us in this world. It is one thing to profess faith in Jesus, but another thing to live it out each day.”
I have just finished writing my Saturday post and come over to read this post Chris…wow! It always blows my mind when he uses His children to write similar messages; I say similar because I approach this subject from a different angle. May our Father God continue to guide and bless you today brother. 🙏
Thank you for the comment and for your blog. May God continue to guide you as well. Blessings.