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What does the Bible say about motivation?

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TL;DR:

We can be motivated by many things, but as a believer, we should be motivated by seeking and glorifying God. When seeking and glorifying God is our priority, our other motivations will fall in place.

what does the bible say?

To be motivated is to be moved to action. Our human nature tells us that our physical needs for food, water, and shelter, and our emotional need for acceptance, are most important. These basic needs motivate much of what we do. But Christ taught us that we should not be anxious about our need for food and clothing because He promises to supply what we need if we are seeking Him first (Matthew 6:33). Our first calling is to love God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:35–40)—these should be what drive our actions, what motivates us. When seeking and glorifying God is our priority, our motivations will fall in place (Philippians 2:12–13).

from the old testament

  • King David wrote, "One thing I have asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4). A person who prioritizes their relationship with God will be motivated to live according to His ways and will rightly prioritize everything else in light of that.

from the new testament

  • The world is mostly motivated by their own needs and desires. However, God tells us He will provide our needs as we seek Him first (Matthew 6:33).
  • We also need not worry about being accepted by the world when we are secure in Christ (John 15:18–19; 16:33).
  • Aside from Jesus, the life of Paul is one of the best examples we have of someone prioritizing their relationship with God. Paul endured beatings, betrayal, shipwrecks, and prison for the sake of the gospel. While he was imprisoned he wrote, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). He knew that what was in heaven was worth so much more than what was on earth. Because his priorities were right, he was motivated to sacrifice his life so more people could come to know the saving love of Christ.
  • Our first calling is to love God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:35–40).

implications for today

People are motivated, or moved to action, by many different things—to provide for their family, to make someone close to them proud, or to accomplish a difficult goal. If our pursuit seems to us noble enough, our motivation seems justified. However, at the root of what motivates us is often self-centeredness. Unlike our neighbors or our friends who often only see our outward actions, God is the one who examines our hearts, our motivation (1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 16:2; Jeremiah 12:3; 17:10). The Bible tells us that our motivation should not be selfish gain or seeking approval based on our own merits. Instead, our motivation for supporting our families, serving the people in our lives, and pursuing the things we are passionate about should be love for God and others. Ultimately, our motivation is to do all that we do for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). As we abide in Him, our motivations will come into alignment and the fruit that is borne in our lives will be to His glory and our joy (John 15:1–17).

understand

  • Our motivations should be centered around seeking and glorifying God.
  • The world is often motivated by selfish pursuit or satisfying our basic needs.
  • God promises to satisfy our basic needs and motivates us on how to make priorities in our lives.

reflect

  • What currently motivates you most in your daily actions?
  • How does prioritizing your relationship with God affect your motivations?
  • How can you shift your motivations to be more focused on loving God and others?

engage

  • How might our motivations change if we consistently placed glorifying God above all else?
  • What can we learn from Paul’s life about staying motivated to serve God even in challenging situations?
  • How can we encourage each other to examine our motivations and priorities and realign them with a God-centered focus?

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