Motives

Proverbs 16:2 NAS All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the

motives.

Actions speak louder than words—we have all heard this statement and may have even used it ourselves. While there is truth to this claim, God says there is something even more important than our actions, yet it is seldom discussed.

A motive is not just a simple reason for doing something. A motive energizes, directs, and sustains our behavior. It’s the spark that ignites action, the compass that guides it, and the fuel that keeps it going. Motives can be basic biological urges that keep us alive or complex inner desires that shape everything we do. Pride, anger, revenge, a sense of entitlement, or the desire for approval can all be negative motives for action. So the question is, what makes you do what you do?

We can’t see people’s motives or intentions, we can only see what they do. But Jeremiah 17:10 acknowledges that God sees both our actions and motives: “But the Lord searches all hearts and examines secret motives.”   If you only see Christianity as a list of do’s and don’ts with God waiting to smack you for breaking His rules, then you are missing who God really is. He is the God whose mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23) and whose kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). He’s not watching your actions, waiting for you to mess up. He’s looking at your heart, ready to forgive.

But if God weighs our motives, then shouldn’t we also search our hearts to understand our deep-seated purposes? For every decision or choice we make, there is a motive, some good and others for selfish reasons. Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitfully wicked above all things; who can understand its secret motives?” Even when our ways appear right before us, God weighs our motives. God judged the Tower of Babel for its unity with misguided motives. “We’ll make a name for ourselves, a monument to us” Genesis 11:4. So how do we know our own motives?

The Word of God reveals our motives. Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts, motives, and desires.” He doesn’t desire us to read the Bible only so we can check that religious box. By spending daily time in God’s word, our hearts become increasingly open to Him, allowing God to mold and shape our motives to bring Him glory.

Prayer reveals our motives. In Luke 18:10-14, Jesus tells the story of two men who went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, God, I thank you that I am not like other people. I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income. But in the distance, the tax collector stood without lifting his eyes to heaven and prayed, God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner. Jesus concluded by saying the tax collector, not the Pharisee, was justified before God. James, the brother of Jesus, later wrote, “When you pray, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.” (James 4:3)

Jesus said everything we do must spring forth from one of two motives: to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:39). Jesus went on to say that everything about God the Father could be summed up in these two commandments. These motives must be the foundation of our life, actions, and words. Choose to focus on pleasing God or on exalting oneself——you can’t do both.

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

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.

Luke 16:14-15 TPT Now, the Jewish religious leaders listening to Jesus were lovers of money. They laughed at what he said and mocked his teachings, so Jesus addressed them directly. You always want to look spiritual in the eyes of others, but you have forgotten the eyes of God, which see your motives and what is inside you. The very things that you approve of and applaud are the things God despises.

Psalms 26:2 NLT Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.

1 Chronicles 29:16-17 NLT O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.

1 Corinthians 4:5 NLT So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

Psalms 7:10 NLT God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.

2 Timothy 2:22 TPT Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts.

1 Corinthians 3:12-14 NLT Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

1 Samuel 2:2-3 NAS There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.

Philippians 1:15, 17 NLT It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely.

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.

Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.