Scriptures on motives provide invaluable guidance and insight into the importance of examining the intentions behind our thoughts, words, and actions.
They remind us that God is not only concerned with what we do but also with why we do it. Motives are the driving force behind our choices, and they reflect the condition of our hearts before God.
Scriptures On Motives
These scriptures caution us against wrong motives such as selfishness, pride, greed, and seeking personal gain or recognition.
They encourage us to cultivate motives that are pure, sincere, and aligned with God’s will.
By examining our motives in light of God’s Word, we can discern whether our intentions are pleasing to Him or if they need to be realigned with His purposes.
Proverbs 16:2 (NIV) – Live a Pure Life
All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV) – Glorify God
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) – God Is Faithful
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Matthew 6:1(NIV) – Don’t Live An Hypocritical Life
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) – Do Not Judge
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
Proverbs 21:2 (NIV) – God Knows Our Heart Cry
A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Romans 12:17 (NIV) – Do Not Repay Evil For Evil
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) – The Word Of God Is Life
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) – Speak Possitive
On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
Philippians 2:3 (NIV) Don’t Be Selfish
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
1 Corinthians 13:3 (NIV)
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
James 1:27 (NIV)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
3 Examples Of Wrong Motives In The Bible
The Bible provides numerous cautionary tales and examples of individuals whose motives were misguided or driven by wrong intentions.
These stories serve as reminders for us to examine our own motives and ensure they align with God’s will and principles.
Here are three examples of wrong motives found in the Bible:
Greed And Selfishness
The story of Achan in Joshua 7 demonstrates the consequences of greed and selfishness. Achan disobeyed God’s command and took valuable items from Jericho, hiding them for his own gain. His actions brought destruction upon himself and the Israelites, revealing the destructive power of selfish desires and the importance of honoring God above personal gain.
Pride And Self-Exaltation
In the book of Daniel, we encounter the story of King Nebuchadnezzar. He became consumed with pride and took credit for the achievements and accomplishments in his life, failing to acknowledge God as the true source of his success. As a result, God humbled him, causing him to live like a wild animal until he recognized God’s sovereignty and repented of his prideful ways.
Hypocrisy And False Piety
Jesus often confronted the religious leaders of His time for their hypocritical motives and actions. In Matthew 23, Jesus warns against the religious leaders’ desire for public recognition and honor, pointing out their practice of outwardly appearing righteous while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Their motives were driven by a desire for power, control, and self-righteousness rather than genuine love for God and others.
Pray With Right Motives Scripture
Praying with right motives is an essential aspect of our relationship with God. It goes beyond mere words or rituals and involves the condition of our hearts and the intentions behind our prayers.
Scriptures that highlight the importance of praying with right motives serve as a guide for us to approach God in a way that aligns with His will and purposes.
These scriptures remind us that prayer is not about seeking personal gain, recognition, or selfish desires. Instead, they encourage us to approach God with humility, sincerity, and a genuine desire to seek His will and glorify Him.
Praying with right motives involves aligning our hearts with God’s priorities and seeking His guidance and wisdom in all aspects of our lives.
James 4:3 (NIV)
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Matthew 6:5 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
1 John 5:14 (NIV)
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Psalm 66:18 (NIV)
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
Proverbs 28:9 (NIV)
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
John 14:13 (NIV)
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
James 1:6 (NIV)
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Romans 8:26 (NIV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
God Judges The Motives Of The Heart Bible Verse
These verses emphasize that God sees beyond outward appearances and evaluates the motives of the heart.
He knows our thoughts, desires, and intentions, and His judgment is based on the true condition of our hearts.
They also encourage us to seek God’s examination of our hearts, to align our motives with His will, and to remember that God will ultimately reward or judge us according to the condition of our hearts.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Proverbs 21:2 (NIV)
A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)
“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)
All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Psalm 44:21(NIV)
would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Luke 16:15 (NIV)
He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
Romans 8:27 (NIV)
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”
Conclusion
scriptures on motives provide us with invaluable guidance and insight into the importance of examining our intentions and desires.
They remind us that God is not only concerned with our outward actions but also with the condition of our hearts. Our motives reflect our true intentions and reveal the authenticity of our relationship with God.
These scriptures caution us against wrong motives such as selfishness, pride, and seeking personal gain. They challenge us to examine our hearts and align our motives with God’s will and purposes.
When our motives are pure and selfless, our prayers, actions, and decisions are pleasing to God and bear fruit that brings glory to His name.
