Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5908 motives  »  5910 motives, examples of

Scripture reflects the wide range of motives which influence human behaviour.

Right actions can result from wrong motives

Philippians 1:15-18 See also 1 Samuel 18:20-23

Right motives do not always produce right actions

1 Kings 8:17-19 pp 2 Chronicles 6:7-9 See also Matthew 1:18-20

Examples of wrong motives

Malice and envy

Genesis 37:11 See also Genesis 37:18-28; Esther 3:1-9; Ezekiel 25:15-16; Ezekiel 36:5; Matthew 2:7-13

Greed

John 12:4-6 See also 2 Kings 5:19-27; Titus 1:10-11

Motives are sometimes misjudged

Joshua 22:9-34 See also Numbers 32:1-33; 2 Samuel 10:1-4 pp 1 Chronicles 19:1-4; 2 Kings 5:5-7

Jesus Christ's actions motivated by a desire to do God's will

John 8:29 See also John 4:34; John 6:38; Hebrews 10:5-7; Psalm 40:6-8

Paul's motives

Paul rejected all base motives in ministry

1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 See also 2 Corinthians 2:17

Paul was motivated by his knowledge of God

2 Corinthians 5:9-12

Paul was concerned for the spiritual growth of others

Philippians 4:14-18 Paul's motive in rejoicing in the gift from the Philippians was the spiritual benefit which they would gain as a result of it. See also Philippians 1:22-26; Phm 8-14

See also

2057  Christ, obedience
2339  Christ, example of
5869  greed
8120  following Christ
8426  evangelism, motivation
8436  giving possessions
8733  envy
8767  hypocrisy
8796  persecution, forms of