1 Corinthians 4:5 (Contemporary Chinese Version) Therefore, do not make hasty judgments before the time has come. When the Lord Jesus returns, He will expose the hidden truths and reveal the motives in people's hearts. At that time, God will give each person the praise they deserve.
We are often busy calculating the effectiveness of our work, the scale of our service, or the evaluations we receive from others, easily overlooking the "motives" hidden in the shadows, which only God can see. Tozer's warning aligns with Paul's teaching: the yardstick of judgment measures not only "what was done," but also "why it was done." This gives us a double reminder: on the one hand, we must be careful to examine ourselves and avoid falling into the traps of vanity and self-righteousness, because outward piety cannot conceal inner motives; on the other hand, it is also a great comfort—even if our efforts are not understood or seen by the world, as long as the motive is out of love for God, the Lord who sees in the darkness will surely praise us in eternity.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You not only for judging but also for being the Father who examines the heart. I ask that Your Spirit shine like light into the depths of my soul, revealing those motives I thought were pure but were actually mixed with selfish desires. Cleanse my heart, so that everything I do today, whether it be the toil of the workplace or the trivialities of family life, is no longer for the sake of gaining applause, but solely for the sake of loving You. Lord, when I feel misunderstood or my labor goes unseen, grant me the rest that Paul had, knowing that the time is not yet ripe, and that I need not rush to defend myself or judge. I entrust my life before Your righteous and loving judgment seat, only asking that on that day I may receive eternal praise from You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.