Assessing Our Motives

While it is good to take a regular inventory of our words, thoughts, and actions, with God it’s even more important to have God help us understand our motives.  Our motives are the underlying reason for any action.  Sometimes we are conscious of them and at other times they can be hidden.  That’s why we need God to help us understand them.

People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.

Proverbs 16:2

But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

Jeremiah 17:10

Motivation becomes an issue when we are not honest with ourselves about why we are doing things.  Way too often if we allow God to show us our heart we’ll recognize motivations such as pride, anger, a desire for approval, or a sense of entitlement.  We need God to help us recognize and then make choices to only act on good motives.  The basis of all good motivations is this one.

Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

And we don’t know if we are pleasing God unless we ask Him so let’s be intentional about doing that today.

And along with that let’s be careful how we assess the reasons why others are doing things.  God alone knows their heart and He will reveal all when the time is right.  We probably have enough to concern us if we just deal with our own private motives and allow God to work on us.

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.

1 Corinthians 4:5

Loving God, we don’t want what is inside us and what we are displaying to be different.  We want to be consistent with our motives and our actions.  Help us to live in such a way that our desire to please You is uppermost in our thoughts and longings. While we may still stumble, we believe even the desire to be motivated by our love for You and Your heart for us, pleases You.  Amen

Someone has put together a list of questions to help us think about our motives.  I’ll put it up on the screen for a minute or so to help us think and allow God to speak to us in this area today.

1. If no one ever knows what I am doing (giving, serving, sacrificing), would I still do it?

2. If there was no visible payoff for doing this, would I still do it?

3. Would I joyfully take a lesser position if God asked me to?

4. Am I doing this for the praise of others or how it makes me feel?

5. If I had to suffer for continuing what God has called me to do, would I continue?

6. If others misunderstand or criticize my actions, will I stop?

7. If those whom I am serving never show gratitude or repay me in any way, will I still do it?

8. Do I judge my success or failure based upon my faithfulness to what God has asked me to do, or how I compare with others¹

¹ https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-motives.html