Motive Check:

Must Do the Right Thing for the Right Reason

Matthew 6:1-34

Leaders can so easily get caught up in doing things for image sake – after all, so many people are watching.

Jesus warns us about facades and hypocrisy. He means this text for everyone, with crucial application to leaders. Our Lord speaks about doing things to be seen by men rather than to please God (Matt. 6:1). Jesus wants to build strong convictions in His followers. He wants to produce God pleasers (1 Thess. 4:1), not people-pleasers (Col. 3:22). In this text, Jesus covers our motives for:

Doing good (v. 1)

Giving to charity (vv. 2-4)

Prayer (vv. 5-15)

Fasting (vv. 16-18)

Priorities and values (vv. 19-24)

Work and worry (vv. 25-34)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Matt. 6:33

Am Service

Motives

21 Christian Growth Issues in the Bible

1 Pet. 5:1-4

I. You MUST Choose How You Will Use Your Leadership

a. 1 Pet. 5:2-4

II. God Questions Jonah’s Motives

a. Jonah 3:1-10

b. Jonah 4:1-11

III. Motives Matter

a. Matt. 6:1-18

IV. Paul Explains His Motives

a. 1 Thess. 2:1-12

Pm Service

Shore Lights

Phil. 2:14-16

I. Let the Lower Lights Be Burning #237

a. Phil. 2:15

II. God Promised the Divine Light of Salvation

a. Isa. 30:26

b. John 8:12

III. God Sends the Light of Truth to Save Our Souls

a. John 3:16-21

b. 1 Thess. 5:1-5

IV. Saints Are Lights Pointing Men to the True Light

a. Matt. 5:14-16

b. Phil. 2:14-16

V. The Light of Christ Shines Forever in Heaven

a. Rev. 21:23-26

Motives:

Why You Do Determines What You Do

2 Chronicles 24:4-18

As a young man, Joash committed himself to restoring the temple. He remained true as long as the high priest Jehoiada was alive. When Jehoiada died, however, the king abandoned the temple and worshiped idols. Why we do something ultimately determines what we do.

Motive Check:

Why We Act Determines How We React

Jonah 4:1, 2

Jonah felt great delight when God planned to destroy the wicked people of Nineveh, but he grew angry when they repented and God showed them compassion. He suspected God might do something just like that, and that made him even angrier. He would have preferred to see God remove the threat of Nineveh. His selfish motives led him astray.

Consequently, God gave him an object lesson. When the Lord sent a worm to eat the plant that gave Jonah shade, the prophet grew angry. God reminded him that he had no right to his anger, since he had done nothing to create the plant. Would he be angry at the death of a mere vine, but unmoved at the destruction of more than 120,000 people? Didn’t the Creator have a right to restore them? Of course He did!

God gave Jonah a motive check – and us a reminder. Leaders must determine to be motivated only by what motivates God.