1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV) -- Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

People do all sorts of things that on the surface look nice. We can’t always judge the true motive of those things. We simply see the action and assess the merit of it. Someone could donate a large sum of money to a non-profit. People can volunteer at an animal shelter or food kitchen. These things are all looked at as great things. But nobody but the person knows the motive and heart behind it except God.

Our passage today reminds us that God always knows. He sees all things. His knowledge is unsurpassed. He weighs our actions against our motives. We read in 1 Samuel 2:3, “Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

The Lord is a God of knowledge. This means that He has exhaustive knowledge of all things. This includes our reasons for acting. He knows the thoughts behind our words. He knows the motivation behind our action. As humans, we rarely know the motives of others, so we judge the actions. “Oh, they are a great person; they always help out when we need it.” That may be true, but they may hate it. They may complain to others about it. They may be seeking payback at a later date. We don’t know these things, but God does. By Him actions are weighed. They are weighed against motives and desires. He sees beyond the surface to the heart of the matter.

Think about your actions and words. What does God see? Does it look different from what others see? Integrity is when there is no gap between what we do and why we do it. This is how a person of character lives. There is no discrepancy between the external actions and internal motives. Strive to live a life of integrity. Remember that God weighs our actions differently than others. 

Reflection & Journal:
- Why is it significant that God weighs our actions?
- What measures can we take to help us close the gap between our external actions and internal motives?
- How can this passage challenge us to live holy?

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