Check Your Motives: The Driving Force Behind Your Pursuits
Motives create the desire to pursue something, but the key question is: Is what you are pursuing truly worth it? Even if you follow a light, you must examine your footing; otherwise, you risk following that light over a cliff.
James addresses this concept in James 4:1-3:
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (NIV).
God’s response to our request is 4-fold: Yes, No, Not yet or with the wrong motives zero chance.
Why Are Motives So Important to God?
God cares deeply about our motives because they shape who we are and who we become. More than our achievements, God is interested in the intentions and reasons behind our actions—things that remain hidden from human eyes. He desires to reward those whose motives align with His will and reflect purity of heart.
- Proverbs 16:2
“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”
This verse emphasizes that God evaluates our intentions, not just our actions. It aligns with the idea that God cares more about our motives than outward accomplishments.
The Connection Between Motives and Spiritual Growth
Checking your motives is essential for spiritual maturity. Motives are rooted in belief systems; if you trust in God’s plan, everything will work out according to His purpose. As Wayne Dyer wisely observed, “If you believe it will work, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.”
- 1 Samuel 16:7
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This reminds us that God’s focus is on the heart, reinforcing the need to examine our motives. When our motives are right the impossible is possible with God.
Pursuing Right Motives with Courage
Having the right motives often requires courage, even in the face of fear. Nelson Mandela famously said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Fear can either paralyze us or serve as a catalyst for action. For instance, if you fear losing weight because it feels overwhelming, you may never begin. Instead, start small—perhaps with the goal of losing just two pounds—and let that motivate you forward.
- Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Seeking God’s will ensure that our motives remain aligned with His purposes. Every goal you have should coincide with God’s will. For example God wants you to be healthy and as you are motivated to take care of yourself it glorifies God.
Right Motives When Working
Your Motivation to work should never be to please man, however as you work remember to Glorify and please Him. Working to glorify others is a bottomless pit that never ends. Your identity in whatever you do should be to shape who you are in Christ.
- Colossians 3:23
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
This verse encourages us to ensure our efforts are motivated by a desire to glorify God.
The Danger of Doubting Your Potential
We frequently lean toward wrong motivations because we doubt the potential of who we can become. However, it’s the right motivation that fuels lasting change. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” Belief can either ignite or extinguish the flame of motivation. Wishing on a star may not lead to progress, but consistent effort toward a goal will bring you closer. As Estee Lauder aptly noted, “I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it but by working for it.” You will never get to the top unless you take the first step.
- Psalm 139:23-24
“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.”
This prayer reflects the importance of inviting God to examine our motives and to guide us. Every step taken is a moment to reflect, “God is this where you want me.”
- Galatians 6:7-8
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows’ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
This connects with James 4:3, warning that wrong motives lead to negative consequences.
In sum, our progress is led by what motivates us. Is what you are pursuing truly worth it? Our motives are important to God because He cares deeply about who we will become. Daily check your motives, because checking your motives is essential for spiritual maturity. Remember your motives are rooted in a belief systems; if you trust in God’s plan, everything will work out according to His purpose. It won’t be easy, however, having the right motives often requires courage, even in the face of fear. Always choose to please God and not man because God will never fail you. Don’t ever doubt your potential because God has deposited a seed in you that was meant to bloom and bless the world.
Notes:
- https://blog.lifechurchstlouis.org/why-motives-are-important