14 Bible Verses about Motives, Examples Of

Some, indeed, are actually preaching Christ because they are moved by jealousy and partisanship, but others are doing so from the motive of good will; the latter, indeed, are doing so from love to me, for they know that I am providentially put here to defend the good news; the former are preaching Christ from the motive of rivalry, not in sincerity, supposing that this is making it harder for me to bear my imprisonment.read more.
What difference then does it make? In one way or another, whether in pretense or in sincerity, Christ is being preached, and that is the thing that makes me glad; yes, more too, I will continue to be glad of it,

Now the birth of Christ Jesus occurred under these conditions: After His mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, but before they had lived together, she was found to be an expectant mother through the influence of the Holy Spirit. But her husband, Joseph, because he was an upright man and did not want to disgrace her, decided to break the engagement by secretly divorcing her. But just as this thought occurred to him, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for it is through the influence of the Holy Spirit that she has become an expectant mother.

Then Herod secretly sent for the stargazers, and found out from them exactly the time the star appeared. So he sent them to Bethlehem with this order, "Go and carefully search for the child, and when you find Him, bring back word to me, and I too may come and do Him homage." After listening to the king, they started on their journey, and the star which they had seen rise led them on until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.read more.
When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy, and went into the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary; and they fell at His feet and worshiped Him. They opened up their treasure sacks and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, as they had been divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they set out to their own country by another route. After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Wake up! Tenderly take the child and His mother, and escape to Egypt; stay there until I further direct you, for Herod is going to search for the child to destroy Him."

But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was going to betray Him, said, "Why was this perfume not sold for sixty dollars and the money given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and as the carrier of the purse for the Twelve he was in the habit of taking what was put into it.

For there are many insubordinate people, mere talkers with nothing to say, but deceivers of their own minds, especially those of the circumcision party, whose mouths must be stopped, for they upset whole families by teaching things they ought not to think, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Yes, He who sent me is ever with me; I am not alone, because I always practice what pleases Him."

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.

because I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.

So, when Christ was coming into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not wish, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt-offerings and sin-offerings you never took delight. Then I said, 'See, I have come, just as the Scripture writes about me in the book, O God, to do your will.'"

For our appeal did not originate from a delusion or an impure motive; it was not made in fraud; for since we have been so approved by God as to be entrusted with the good news, we are now telling it, not to please men but God, who proves and finds approved our hearts. Indeed, we never resorted to flattery, as you are well aware, nor to any pretext for making money; God is our witness.read more.
We never sought praise from men, either from you or from anyone else; although as apostles we could have stood on our official dignity.

Now who is qualified for such a task? I am, for I am not a peddler of God's message, like the most of them, but like a man of sincerity, like a man that is sent from God and living in His presence, in union with Christ I speak His message.

So whether I am at home or away from home, it is my constant ambition to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment-bar of Christ, that each may get his pay for what he has done, whether it be good or bad. So, since I know what the fear of God can do, I am trying to win men. My inner self is perfectly known to God, and I hope, to your consciences too.read more.
I am not trying to recommend myself to you again. I am giving you ground for speaking well of me, that you may have something to say to those who are constantly prating about external privileges and not concerned about the state of the heart.

But you did me a kindness to share my sorrow with me. And you Philippians yourselves know that immediately after the good news was first preached to you, when I left Macedonia, no church but yours went into partnership with me to open an account of credits and debits. Even while I was at Thessalonica you sent money more than once for my needs.read more.
It is not your gift that I want, but I do want the profits to pile up to your credit. I have received your payment in full, and more too. I am amply supplied after getting the things you sent by Epaphroditus; they are like sweet incense, the kind of sacrifice that God accepts and approves.

But if to keep on living here means fruit from my labor, I cannot tell which to choose. I am hesitating between two desires, for I long to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far, far better, And yet for your sakes it is very necessary for me to stay on here.read more.
Now since I am certain of this, I know that I shall stay on and stay by you all to promote the progress of your faith which will result in your joy; so that, through union with Christ Jesus, you may have more than sufficient ground for boasting about me, through my being with you again.