5909 motives, importance of

God acts from the highest, purest motives and expects his people to do the same.

God’s supreme motive is the honour of his name

Ps 106:8 See also Ex 9:16; Ps 23:3; Isa 43:7; Eze 36:20-23; Eph 1:11-14

God’s glory is to be the highest motive of his people

1Co 10:31 See also Nu 25:7-13; Isa 26:8; Col 3:17; 1Pe 4:11

Purity of motive is essential for acceptable worship

Mt 6:1-18 See also Ps 51:6,10; Ps 86:11; Mt 5:8

Wrong motives hinder effective prayer

Jas 4:3 See also Ps 66:18; 1Jn 3:21-22

Motives for good moral behaviour

Wanting to please God Col 3:22-25 See also Eph 6:5-8

Compassion for others Dt 24:17-22 The experience of slavery and the exodus were to promote compassion for the poor and the alien. See also Ex 22:21-27; Lev 25:35-42,54-55

Fear of punishment for sin Heb 13:4 See also Col 3:5-6; 1Th 4:3-6

God judges the motives of the heart

Pr 16:2 See also 1Ch 28:9; Pr 20:27

See also