What’s Your Motive?

Read Time / 2 Minutes

Theme / Financial Planning

“Motive” is a loaded word.  The dictionary defines it as “a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious.”  Its root is in the Latin word “movere” which means “to move.”  What’s intriguing about the word is that it signifies an internal desire, but one that we may not have defined fully before we act.  When you ask a child why they did something, they may respond “I don’t know.”  We ask that question because we are trying to understand their motive, knowing that all actions result from motives.

Not only is it important to have clear motives, but also correct ones.  In Genesis 11, we read that the people of the earth were building a tower “to the heavens,” not for altruistic reasons, but “to make a name” for themselves.  Their motive was clear – but it was not the right one in God’s eyes – and He was not pleased.

It is important to know our motives for investing.  Are we trying to make a name for ourselves, or are there more noble reasons?  Here are at least two scriptural reasons for investing.  First, the Lord wants us to provide for our family (1 Timothy 5:8).  This provision may take different forms.  We may invest for times of financial drought, for the futures of our loved ones, or to not be a financial burden on others when we are old.  Second, the Lord wants us to be generous.  Scripture encourages us “to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).  In the Old Testament we read of gleaning, where a farmer intentionally left a portion of his crop unharvested so that “the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow” could harvest the grain (Deuteronomy 24:19).  Incorporating the concept of gleaning into our investing implies using a portion of our investing profits to help others.

We may not be physically building a tower to the heavens, but we are building our financial futures.  As we invest, and especially as we have success, let’s keep the right perspectives on why we are investing.  May we all look beyond the heavens to our heavenly Father and let Him motivate us!

Doug Hanson, MBA

Wealth Advisor

208.697.3699

doug@christianwm.com