What is your motive?

I have been praying to God to help me be more fluent in tongues, I have always tried to pray for long in tongues than in understanding by allowing my spirit pray as directed by the Holy Spirit. Last night, I also had that same desire burning in my heart and as soon as I rounded off my prayers, the Holy spirit directed me to
1 Corinthians 14:11-16:

11.Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

As I read, verse 12 caught my attention and that would be the focus of this post.
12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

It is good to desire spiritual gifts, in fact it is great to be zealous about it. To want to be more fluent in tongues, to interpret tongues, to heal, have great faith, prophesy words of wisdom, knowledge and understanding? Oh, that is great
But let me ask, why do you want those gifts? Is it because of the love of Christ burning in you? Or because you desire to grow more in him? Or to edify his body? Hope it is not to boast of yourself and not in the Lord? Hope it is not to oppress others with you in ministry? Hope it is not to get the praises of men?
One of my friends said something and I would make sure to always remember. She said "God judges intentions and not actions"
Yeah, God is not interested in knowing if you take care of your pastor or clean the church, He wants to know the intention behind those actions. He is not interested in the tithe you pay, he wants to know if you are not paying it to strike a blessing deal with him.
What is the intention behind your evangelism? Is it as a result of the burning desire in you to bring others to Christ? Or because you want people to say oh, she is really a Christian or he is indeed a child of God? Why did you start that ministry, hope it is not to gain popularity but to bring people to the knowledge of the message of the cross? Hope it was according to the directives from the Holy Spirit? What is your motive?

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