HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 230
page A228
Motives See also Accountability; Character; Conscience; Desires; Excuses;
Judging Others; Priorities
One person may give to charity to earn a tax break; another may do it to win political
favor; still another may act out of deep compassion for the poor. The same act can be
set in motion by very different motives. The Bible teaches that God is as interested in
our motives as in our behavior, for eventually, selfish and sinful motives produce selfish
and sinful behavior. Our motives show the condition of our heart. That’s why a change
of heart is needed if our motives are not pleasing to God.
Do our motives matter as long as we’re doing the right thing?
• PR O V E R B S 2 0 :2 7 | The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden
motive.
Your motives are very important to God. The condition of your heart is essential to the
condition of your relationship with God.
• G E NE S I S 4 :4 -5 | The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his
gift. (See note on page 7.)
It is quite likely that Cain’s sacrifice was regarded as inappropriate because his motives
were impure.
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• 1 C H R O NI C L E S 2 1 :1 -7 | David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a
census of all the people. . . .” God was very displeased with the census, and he punished
Israel for it. (See note on page 373.)
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It’s possible that David’s motivation for taking the census was what displeased God.
Even a seemingly harmless decision, when made with improper motives, can become
destructive.
• MAT T H E W 6 :1 | “Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will
lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”
When we pursue spiritual life with self-serving motives, God says we don’t have a spiritual
life after all.
• 1 S A MU E L 1 5 :1 9 -2 1 | “Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the
plunder . . . ?” “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “. . . My troops brought in the best
of the . . . plunder to sacrifice to the Lord.”
Saul tried to justify his sinful actions with the excuse that he sinned in order to do a good
thing. His life was a story of one excuse after another, covering up for selfish motives.
Finally he ran out of excuses and lost his kingdom because his true motives were exposed
(1 Samuel 15:26).
• J A ME S 4 :3 | And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—
you want only what will give you pleasure.
Wrong motives can hinder your prayers when selfishness rules your requests.
How can I have purer motives?
• PSA L M 1 9 :1 4 | May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to
you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Start by asking God to change the way you think by changing your heart.
• J O H N 1 :3 8 | Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked
them. (See note on page 953.)
• 1 C O R I NT H I A NS 4 :4 | My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord
himself who will examine me and decide.
Remember that God alone knows your heart. Ask him to reveal to you any area in which
your motives are less than pure.
• 1 C H R O NI C L E S 2 8 :9 | “Learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and
serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and
knows every plan and thought.”