What is Your Motive When You Give?

Introduction

The word motive comes from the Latin words motivus, meaning moving, and movere, meaning to move.

Think of motive as the thing that moves you to act.

You often hear of motive in the context of crime––a suspect’s fingerprints may be on the murder weapon, but a detective won’t understand the crime until he understands the motive. What made the killer act?

"What does the Bible say about motives?"

The Bible has a lot to say about our motives. A motive is the underlying reason for any action.

Proverbs 16:2 KJV 1900

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV 1900

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:

We can easily fool ourselves about our own motives.

“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Because the human heart is very deceitful (), we can easily fool ourselves about our own motives. We can pretend that we are choosing certain actions for God or the benefit of others, when in reality we have selfish reasons. God is not fooled by our selfishness and is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” ().

says, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Because the human heart is very deceitful (), we can easily fool ourselves about our own motives. We can pretend that we are choosing certain actions for God or the benefit of others, when in reality we have selfish reasons. God is not fooled by our selfishness and is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” ().

We can pretend that we are choosing certain actions for God or the benefit of others, when in reality we have selfish reasons.

But God is is not fooled by our selfishness

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God is not fooled by our selfishness and is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” ().

Human beings can operate from a variety of motivations, often negative.

Human beings can operate from a variety of motivations, often negative. Pride, anger, revenge, a sense of entitlement, or the desire for approval can all be catalysts for our actions. Any motivation that originates in our sinful flesh is not pleasing to God (). God even evaluates the condition of our hearts when we give offerings to Him ().

Pride, anger, revenge, a sense of entitlement, or the desire for approval can all be catalysts for our actions.

Any motivation that originates in our sinful flesh is not pleasing to God

Romans 8:8 KJV 1900

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

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God even evaluates the condition of our hearts when we give offerings to Him.

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV 1900

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

God even evaluates the condition of our hearts when we give offerings to Him ().

().

So what is the right motivation?

How do Christ’s words in apply to this situation?

When You Give Don’t Give To Be Seen of Men(vs. 1)

How do Christ’s words in apply to this situation? As He was talking about charitable deeds, Jesus taught that it’s wrong to parade our faith in public (v.2). On the other hand, He said in that we must let others see evidence of our faith.

Jesus’ exhortation “Take Heed” is the present tense form, and emphasizing the need to be on the alert to the temptation to seek our reward from men.

Not all public acts of obedience are done for the wrong motives.

Not all public acts of obedience are done for the wrong motives.

Jesus has already commanded us, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father who is in heaven” (5:16).

We are actually commanded to perform righteous acts of obedience before others.

The difference is in whom others see as a result of our public righteousness.

Do they see only us, or do they see our Father more clearly?

The key to understanding this seeming contradiction is motive.

As He was talking about charitable deeds, Jesus taught that it’s wrong to parade our faith in public (v.2). On the other hand, He said in that we must let others see evidence of our faith.

The key to understanding this seeming contradiction is motive.

If our desire is to do right—to give light—we’re acting in the spirit of Christ.

But if we only desire to appear right—to get the spotlight—we have the wrong motive.

It's possible to do right for the wrong reason.

When You Give Don’t Give Like The Hypocrites. (vs. 2)

The opening when implies that this was a teaching which applied to any instance of giving.

In classical Greek, the term hypocrite referred to an actor on stage, wearing a mask.

In classical Greek, the term hypocrite referred to an actor on stage, wearing a mask.

In the New Testament, it came to have a negative connotation, referring to someone putting on an act (i.e., masking the truth).

We find the foundational point in , quoted in , “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

“The Lord warns against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. All deeds must be done from an inward principle, that the doer may be approved of God, not praised of men.

deeds must be done from an inward principle, that the doer may be approved of

When the doer takes least notice of his or her good deeds, God takes most notice of them.

God, not praised of men. When the doer takes least notice of his or her good

To ‘sound one’s own trumpet’ today is to flaunt one’s own good works or accomplishments”

deeds, God takes most notice of them. To ‘sound one’s own trumpet’ today is to

flaunt one’s own good works or accomplishments”

But When You Give?

May our actions today reflect a desire to please God, not to impress people.

Matthew 6:3 KJV 1900

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Although we live before a world That sees the things we do, It's more important that we know God sees our motives too. —DJD

Verse 3 begins with the strong adversative, But when you.

Verse 3 begins with the strong adversative, So when you. The emphasis on “you” was intended to draw a stark contrast between the hypocrites just described and Jesus’ kingdom servants, the disciples of 5:1–2. Jesus’ instruction in 6:3 is exaggerated wording intended to make the point: “Do all you can to avoid drawing attention to yourself.”

The emphasis on “you” was intended to draw a stark contrast between the hypocrites just described and Jesus’ kingdom servants, the disciples of 5:1–2.

Jesus’ instruction in 6:3 is exaggerated wording intended to make the point: “Do all you can to avoid drawing attention to yourself.”

Since nothing escapes the eye of God, even the most private act is noticed and will be rewarded.

Jesus’ use of the title Father added warmth to his guarantee of reward.

This is not to be seen as a mechanical kind of relationship. Rather, the gift from the heart is given out of love for the Father, and the reward is returned as to a dearly beloved Son.

The reward (6:4, 6, 18) is not unrelated to the concept of reward in 6:1.

The first word leans more toward the idea of repayment; thus, the idea of reimbursement for our “expense” incurred in each act of righteousness.

But the point is the Father rewarding his servants.

When it comes to rewards, look to the eternal. “You cannot expect to be paid twice, if therefore you take your reward in the applause of men, who give you a high character for generosity, you cannot expect to have any reward from God”

twice, if therefore you take your reward in the applause of men, who give you a

high character for generosity, you cannot expect to have any reward from God”

It's possible to do right for the wrong reason.