But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.  Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’ (I Kings 8: 18-19 NASB)

Just like it is possible to do the right thing with a wrong motive, we can try to do the wrong thing with a right motivation.  Obedience always discloses our purposes.

David did not err in his heart to have a house built for God, but his desire to construct it himself strayed from God’s plans.  Nathan the Prophet delivers the message to David that he is not supposed to build the temple.  “When your days are complete, and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (II Samuel 7: 12-13 NASB).

David’s response of obedience discloses the condition of his heart.  “Now, therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord God, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever” (II Samuel 29 NASB).  David looked to the eternal blessing, not just the temporal one.

It is better to have the wrong plan with a pure heart because that is always correctable.  A right plan with a selfish motive is sometimes incorrigible.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission.  My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine.  I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University.  [email protected]