Proverbs 16:2- “All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs motives.”
When I was about 7 or 8 years old, my friends and I would play hide and seek. I had become good at hiding because I knew the playground area well. A couple of my friends would always start their search in the same area, so I always stayed ahead of them and then run back to home base before they saw me.
Occasionally one of my friends would bring his cousin along to play with us; he was 3 or 4 years old. He was so easy to find, that we started bypassing him so he could enjoy the game and not get tagged so quickly. The problem with our “little” playmate was that he would hide in the open. He was just so happy to play with the “big” kids, that he wasn’t really aware of how exposed he was. He was literally hiding in plain sight.
Many times in our dealings with friends, family and associates, we will play a game of “adult” hide and seek. We hide our real motives behind our words, actions and attitudes. Some of the reasons are:
● We are in an embarrassing situation
● We want to get our way
● We are trying to achieve some end goal or result
● Don’t want the other person to know the truth
● We want to get back at the person who did us wrong
These are wrapped in a few basic sins: selfishness, fear, manipulation, and unforgiveness.
The problem is that even though we may be successful in hiding from people, God sees everything; to Him, we are hiding in plain sight. We are like the 3 year old who is playing with the big kids, unaware that everything we think, feel and do is seen by an omnipresent God (He’s everywhere).
The Amplified Bible version of the verse provides a little more clarity:
All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions], but the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth]. (AMP)
Are you trying to hide the true motives behind your words or actions? Is it because they are not godly or not in keeping with His commands, principles or character? Are you having to justify yourself before, during and after your interaction with others? You might as well stop playing the “hide and seek” game right now. You are hiding in plain sight. Nothing gets past the Lord. As a matter of fact Romans 14:11-12 tells us that every knee shall bow before Him and each of us will give an account to Him.
Determine to walk in right standing before Him. Trust Him to get you out of tough situations and provide what you need, when you need it, in the right way. You will discover that the game of life is better with Him on your side.
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