Motives Matter Series #1: His Presence or His Presents — Which Do You Seek?

Welcome to the Motives Matter series, where we will explore not only what things we do in our faith, but why we do them.  We will explore what kind of relationship God really wants from His people, and the fact that He can read our hearts.  Let’s start out by looking at why we pray.

The Big Question

Imagine for a moment that God came to you and said, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.” What would you ask for? Wealth? Health? Success? Maybe for a loved one to be healed or a dream to be fulfilled?  For us officials, maybe a championship assignment?  This isn’t just a hypothetical scenario — it actually happened to King Solomon.  When Solomon became king after his father David, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon could have asked for riches, power, victory over his enemies, or a long life.  But what did he ask for?

In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon replied: “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”  Solomon’s request revealed his heart.  He didn’t seek personal gain but rather wisdom to lead God’s people well.  And God’s response?

“Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word.” (1 Kings 3:11-12)

Not only did God grant Solomon wisdom, but He also blessed him with the riches and honor he hadn’t asked for. Solomon’s story shows us a crucial truth: when we seek God’s will and wisdom over personal benefit, God is pleased.  But what about us? When we come to God, what are we really seeking?  His presence — a relationship with Him — or His presents — the blessings and benefits He can give?

Let’s dive deeper into what Scripture teaches about the heart behind our seeking.

Seeking God’s Presence

Throughout Scripture, we see people who did it right, they desired not for what God could give, but for God Himself:

David understood this.  After all, he was described as a man after God’s heart.  In Psalm 63:1 — “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”  David’s greatest desire wasn’t God’s blessings, but God’s presence.

Moses also longed for God’s presence. After leading Israel out of Egypt, Moses had seen God’s power firsthand, but that wasn’t enough. In Exodus 33:18 he said, “Show me Your glory.”  Moses wanted to know God, not just witness His miracles.

Even Jesus — God in the flesh — showed us the value of pursuing God’s presence. In Mark 1:35, Jesus would rise early, just to spend time alone with the Father.

Seeking God’s presence means valuing intimacy with Him above all else. It’s about relationship, not results.

Seeking God’s Presents

On the other hand, Scripture also shows us people who sought God only for what He could give:

In John 6:26, after Jesus miraculously fed the five thousand, the crowds followed Him.  But Jesus saw their true motives: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” They weren’t after the Bread of Life — just free bread.

Even true believers are prone to ask for the wrong motives.  Take James and John, two of Jesus’ closest disciples. In Mark 10:35-37, they approached Jesus with a bold request: “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” Imagine that! They weren’t coming to seek wisdom or to draw closer to Jesus — they were treating Him like a magic genie. Jesus, with patience, asked: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Their answer revealed their hearts: “Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your glory.”  James and John were seeking status, power, and recognition. They weren’t interested in God’s presence — they wanted His presents.  They craved honor without understanding the sacrifice that came with following Christ.

Wanting God’s blessings isn’t inherently wrong — but when it becomes the goal of our faith, we miss the whole point.

Wrong Motives 

James warns us about this attitude:  James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”  When we pray with selfish motives, don’t expect to get them answered.  It’s our motives that get us in trouble in life to begin with.  James 4:1-2 points out that the root of many conflicts comes from misguided desires: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?  Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?  You desire and do not have, so you murder.  You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”

If we come to God only to get what we want, our relationship with Him becomes transactional — like using a vending machine instead of seeking a Father.

Father knows best

The good news with dealing with our Father is He already knows our needs — and He cares. In Matthew 6:31-32, Jesus says:

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”  God isn’t oblivious to our struggles.  But instead of worrying about provision, Jesus calls us to prioritize the relationship in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  In Matthew 7:11, Jesus reminds us that God delights in giving good gifts to His children: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  We just need to ask Him for the right things.  If you’re wondering what they are, Jesus gave us the perfect model in the Lord’s Prayer — a humble cry for God’s will to be done, for daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance.

Check Your Motives 

So, what about you?  When you pray, what are you seeking?  Are you always chasing after God's blessings, or are you pursuing God Himself?

This week, I challenge you to spend time with God without asking for anything.  Just sit in His presence.  Pray, worship, read His Word — not to get something, but just to be with Him.  As Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

The Greatest Gift 

In the end, the greatest gift God gives us is Himself.  The presents will fade, but His presence is eternal.  May our hearts echo the words of David in Psalm 16:11:  “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”