The Bible has a lot to say about motives – why we do what we do. Our motives reveal the true desires of our hearts and what we value most. Here is an overview of some key biblical principles about motives:
1. God looks at the heart and motives, not just outward actions
Humans tend to judge by outward appearances, but God looks deeper (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for appearing righteous on the outside but being full of greed and wickedness within (Luke 11:39). We may be able to fool others, but we can never fool God, who examines the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
2. Inner motives matter more than outward actions to God
The Bible teaches that true righteousness is not just avoiding wrong actions but also having inward integrity and purity of heart. Our inner attitudes and motivations matter to God as much as our external behaviors. For example, Jesus said giving to the poor out of a sincere desire to help is more righteous than giving out of a prideful desire to be honored by others (Matthew 6:2-4). It is possible to obey God’s commands outwardly while rebelling in our hearts.
3. Selfishness and pride often underlie sinful motives
The Bible warns that sinful actions are often motivated by selfishness and pride. James 4:1-3 says fights and quarrels come from our sinful desires battling within us. We lust and covet because we prioritize our selfish desires above God’s will. Pride leads to strife when we insist on our own way (Proverbs 13:10). Self-centeredness is at the root of most sins.
4. Godly motives are Christ-centered, not self-centered
The antidote to selfish motives is developing God-centered motivations. Rather than seeking our own interests and glory, we can learn to live for Christ and lead others to know Him (Philippians 2:3-11). surrendering our will to God’s. When our deepest desire is to glorify God and see His kingdom expand, our motives for everyday choices will fall into alignment.
5. Love should be the guiding motive in all we do
Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). Love is the fulfillment of the law, and a pure motivation that God desires (Romans 13:8-10). When we are motivated by compassion and Christlike love, we will avoid sinning against God and hurting other people. Our actions will flow out of care and concern.
6. Seeking reward and avoiding punishment can be good motives
While selfish ambition is wrong, the Bible encourages seeking eternal rewards in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). It is good to feel holy fear of God’s punishment for sin, if it motivates us to obey Him. C.S. Lewis wrote that while unhealthy guilt distorts God’s justice, true guilt rightly reminds us of God’s righteous standards.
7. We cannot have pure motives without God’s help and grace
On our own, even our best deeds will be tainted by wrong motives like pride. We need God’s mercy and Spirit to purify our hearts and give us selfless motivation to serve Him and others (Psalm 51:10). As we grow closer to Christ, our actions will be increasingly motivated by His pure love.
8. Checking motives requires careful and prayerful self-reflection
Since outward behaviors can mask inward motives, we need to humbly examine our hearts before God (Psalm 139:23-24). As we pray, the Spirit will convict us of impure motives and help us to align with godly purposes. Accountability from other believers can also help reveal mixed motives we may overlook.
9. Motives are often a mixture of good and bad
Our motives tend to be mixed, rather than 100% pure or sinful. For example, one could evangelize out of both a godly desire to reach the lost and a prideful desire to appear successful. God cares more about the overall trajectory of our motives than perfection. As we mature in Christ, impure elements will diminish.
10. God redeems and transforms sinful motives over time
The good news is that God can redeem even our imperfect, tainted motivations. As we yield areas of chronic mixed motives to Him, He replaces selfishness and pride with selfless love. Our motives are purified over time through the sanctifying work of the Spirit.
In summary, motives matter greatly because they reveal the truth about our priorities and desires. The Bible commands us to purify our inner drives and align our hearts with godly motivations centered on loving God and others. Through Christ’s grace, the Spirit transforms us from self-focused to God-focused.
Here are some key verses on motives:
Proverbs 16:2 – “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”
Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
1 Corinthians 4:5 – “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.”
Philippians 1:15-17 – “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love…the former preach Christ out of selfish ambition…”
James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”