1 Thessalonians 1:3

"your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." I have spent some time lately thinking about my motives for doing good. This verse speaks volumes. Faith, hope and love are the base that should motivate my actions. In chapter 2, Paul lists some wrong motives: greed, praise from men, impurity and error. I could add a few more like, trying to add to my salvation or earn extra favor with God. Good actions with wrong motives can fool a lot of people but God looks on the heart. All those so called "good works" end up as filthy rags; what a waste! Lord, purify my heart.