I once sent a hurting person an anonymous note that included the reference for this verse: “Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow; He won’t need to strike twice” (Nahum 1:9). Why send that verse, you ask? Well, I thought I was citing Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him.” I cringe every time I remember my slip-up. I wanted to encourage this individual, but reading that Scripture verse probably made her doubt my motives.

Mistaken motives were at the heart of a verbal scuffle between David and his oldest brother Eliab. David had been inquiring about the reward for fighting Goliath— showing his interest in facing the giant. But Eliab accused him of voyeurism, claiming, “You just want to see the battle” (v.28). David replied, “I was only asking a question!” (v.29), and then he skedaddled. He didn’t waste his time explaining himself to someone who was looking for a fight.

Like David, we can respond by simply stating the facts when our motives are questioned. We can also adopt his laid-back attitude as we allow our noble actions to speak for themselves. David didn’t let his brother’s doubt deter him from advertising his interest in fighting Goliath. “He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing” (v.30).

When Saul and David finally discussed David’s wartime wishes, I’ll bet David was happy he hadn’t used up his emotional energy arguing with Eliab. David knew that God alone “examines the motives of our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Samuel 16:7), and that was enough for him. We too can rest knowing that God sees our hearts, and He will never mistake our motives.