Ulterior Motives

I work in a call centre and we know that sometimes people will ask questions in a certain way because they are looking for a particular answer. They may even talk to more than one representative and attempt to change the way they ask the question or present information in order to receive the answer that most benefits them.

In today’s reading, the Sadducees didn’t really care about the matter of marriage and how it would work in the resurrection. They didn’t believe in the resurrection, so they were trying to trap Jesus into saying something that would support their pre-conceived notions. They had done this to Jesus before.

What about us? When we read scripture or approach God in prayer, do we already have in mind the answers we are looking for? Do we try to mold God into our way of thinking instead of accepting that God is beyond our understanding, and that life after the resurrection will be beyond what we can imagine?

It’s perfectly okay to ask questions; God expects us to. But let’s leave our ulterior motives behind and trust him.

Dear Lord, when we come to you with our questions, help us to have genuine hearts in our quest for understanding. Amen. — DLG