Which is more important: "what" we do or "why" we do it?
Heart of Gold or Heart of Stone.
I would submit that, at the very least they are of equal importance. The “why” often explains or defines the “what.” The “why” can make big things seem small and small things seem big.
The “why” calls into question one’s motives or motivations. The words “motive” and “motivation” stem from the Latin word "movere" which mean to move. Put yet another way what moves us may be called the” heart of the matter” or a “matter of the heart.” We often use those idioms when searching for a cause, the reason or the “why.” And, it is not difficult to see why such phraseology works. The heart is a vital part (of the body). And, why is it so vital? The heart moves constantly to move life continuously throughout the body. In essence, it is what moves us. If it ceases to move, then we cease to move.
One might be tempted to confuse a motive with an explanation or excuse. Put one way: as long as the explanation or excuse is good then it justifies the action. Not! Let's not confuse excuses or explanations as being synonymous with motivation or motive. Even the criminal justice system (as imperfect as it may be at times) recognizes this as a flaw in logic. For this reason, they do not merely seek an explanation or an excuse but also look for motive.
Ponder this (over-simplified to make a point):
A very wealthy individual gives a large sum of money to charity in order to avoid taxes.
A very poor individual gives most of her time and money because she recognizes others are in greater need than she.
We all can recognize which of these individuals gave the most monetarily. But, I submit that the one who gave out of the recognition of the needs of others gave far more than the one who gave out of personal wealth. One gave to benefit self; the other gave to benefit others. If one gives only to benefit self, when the benefits end so will the giving. However, the one who gives solely to meet the needs of others will frequently continue to give regardless of the personal benefit. These examples point to how the heart/motivation/why may even be greater than the what.
History also teaches us that even things like breaking the law and civil disobedience may be well justified depending on the motive. We have seen this with the Civil Rights movement, Nazi resistance, the Abolitionist movement.... The list goes on.
The heart is always moving. What is it moving you to do?
"People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines the heart" – Proverbs 21:2 ESV
Sow what?