God lays a significant emphasis on the human heart’s intentions, believing that actions should stem from love, kindness, and sincerity rather than deceit, selfishness, and malice.
What Does the Bible Teach About Motives?
The Bible communicates profound teachings concerning motives. It underlines the weight of motives behind our actions, emphasizing that they hold as much importance, if not more, than the actions themselves. The Bible harbors the belief that while humans may judge others based on their actions, God delves deeper, discerning people’s hearts to know their underlying motives. This offers a clear view that God values intentions, and these intentions can be either pure or corrupt, depending on the moral quality of the individual.
Why Are Motives Important According to the Bible?
Biblical teachings mark motives as crucial since they are directly connected to the health of our relationship with God. It indicates that pure and sincere motives help build a strong, intimate bond with Him. On the contrary, wrong motives can create barriers between God and us as they reflect a lack of integrity and sincerity. Furthermore, it hints that the blessings we receive from God might very well be linked to the sincerity of our motives. As such, living with the right motives is not only significant for maintaining a healthy relationship with God but also for enjoying the blessings that accompany a Godly life.
When Does the Bible Talk About Motives?
The Bible tends to present teachings about motives in diverse contexts and situations. It talks about motives when it discusses the commandments about love, where it underlines that our actions should not be spurred by selfish desires but a genuine love for others. Furthermore, it brings up the subject of motives when discussing the idea of giving and service, suggesting that these acts should spring from a sincere heart rather than a desire for recognition or appreciation. The Bible also addresses motives in the context of sin, insinuating that even if an action seems righteous on the surface, God examines the motive behind it and holds us accountable if it is tainted with sin.
Who Does the Bible Say Will Judge Our Motives?
The Bible consistently reiterates that it is God who will judge our hearts and motives. Unlike man, who is limited to observing outward behavior, God can look into our hearts for honest appraisal. He knows the purity or deception hidden within, understands our intentions, and judges us fairly based on the motives behind our actions.
Where Does the Bible Say Our Motives Come From?
According to the Bible, our motives are born within our hearts, the spiritual center of our being. The Bible teaches that our hearts can either be pure or evil, influencing our motivations. It is from the heart that motives for actions are born and orchestrated. For this reason, the Bible encourages us to continually guard our hearts and maintain its purity. It proposes that by doing so, we can foster motives in accordance with God’s will, achieving a divine synchronization between our actions and intentions.
Below is our full list of bible verses on motives (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Motives
Proverbs 21:2
“2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”
Related Themes: Heart Self Awareness Abomination Pride
Galatians 1:10
“10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Related Themes: Pleasing God Peer Pressure Dating Manipulation Opinions
1 Thessalonians 2:4
“4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
Related Themes: Pleasing God Heart Approval
Philippians 2:3
“3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
Related Themes: Pride Humility Respecting Your Parents
1 Timothy 1:5
“5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”
Related Themes: Heart Conscience Integrity Charity
1 Samuel 16:7
“7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Related Themes: Pride Self-Esteem Criticism Vanity Heart
Matthew 6:1
“1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
1 Corinthians 4:5
“5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
Related Themes: Judging Others Retribution Judgment Secrets
Proverbs 16:2
“2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.”
1 John 3:12
“12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
“13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Related Themes: Life Purpose Life Retribution Health
Genesis 4:7
“7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
1 John 4:1
“1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Related Themes: Discernment Confusion Lying Judging Others Magic
Colossians 3:23
“23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
Related Themes: Creativity Business Attitude Laziness Money
Colossians 3:17
“17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Related Themes: Business Attitude Gratitude Thankfulness Dedication
Matthew 10:28
“28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Ephesians 6:6
“6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”
Related Themes: Pleasing God Integrity Heart
1 Thessalonians 2:6-12
“6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”
1 Chronicles 28:9
“9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence Omnipresence Serving God
1 John 1:9
“9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Related Themes: Repentance Forgiveness Bitterness Lust Attitude
1 John 2:27
“27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Learning Education Discernment Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:13-14
“13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Related Themes: Freedom Humility Serving Others Love Freedom
Philippians 4:8
“8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Related Themes: Lust Gossip Attitude Complaining
Psalm 106:8
“8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.”
Job 1:9-11
“9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
Ezekiel 36:21
“21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.”
Job 2:4
“4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.”
Matthew 5:22
“22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Related Themes: Frustration Hell Lust Attitude Love
