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Resources for Changing Lives
Motives: “Why Do I Do the Things I Do?”
Helps us face the difficult question, "Why do I keep doing that?" Points to our heart, then to God, who can change even our motives.
40 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2003
12 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Edward T. Welch
97 books462 followersEdward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for thirty years and is the best-selling author of many books including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 9, 2019
This is a biblical counseling booklet by author and counselor Edward Welch on the topic of motive. I read this booklet because it is a part of a wonderful counseling booklet series called “Resources for Changing Lives” published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. I have enjoyed and benefited from other titles in this series and this particular work also proved to be helpful, edifying and sanctifying!
The topic of this booklet might at first seem too general and broad that some might wonder how this booklet can be helpful. However one must have a biblical understanding and view of motives as part of the prerequisite of true and lasting change. Thus the booklet’s discussion of motives is helpful for bringing about real change. After completing this booklet I realized this can be a helpful “follow up” resource to some of the other booklets in the same series. For instance say someone read the series’ booklet on depression or anger; one might want to follow up next with this booklet on motive to further probe the root of one’s depression or anger.
I love how in the introduction the author tells us right away that people are complex and mentioned the analogy of icebergs and onions to describe human complexity (like icebergs there’s more under the surface than above it in regards to people and also like onion people have multiple layers). Within the first page the booklet also defined what are motives which the author defined as “why we do it.” Next the booklet makes the case that motives are important, followed by a section on idols of the heart. I enjoyed the second half of the booklet more than the first half; beginning with the second half there’s an excellent discussion of why we pursue idols that I found quite helpful such as the idea that idols are not one’s ends but instead is the means in which we fulfill the true ends which is for one’s own self and desire. The final section of the booklet is on change from the heart.
Again this is an excellent biblical counseling resource not just for the reader who is reading this for his or her own sanctification and holiness but also for the biblical counselor. Specifically for the counselor the book presents many excellent questions that are extremely helpful to ask the counselee to draw out the motives from the person’s heart. These questions are found on pages 4, 15 and 22-23 in the book. As a pastor I jot down these questions as I believe it is important to discover and/or demonstrate to someone what their motive is rather than simply making an assertion about someone’s motive. Even if a counselor have a high probability of knowing the counselee’s motive it is still important to ask questions to draw out the answer from the person so as to avoid unnecessary conflict when someone feels the counselor is being presumptuous and also to let the counslee discover it themselves since often sin does blind people concerning their true motivation. Again people are complex; yet this booklet is helpful!
The topic of this booklet might at first seem too general and broad that some might wonder how this booklet can be helpful. However one must have a biblical understanding and view of motives as part of the prerequisite of true and lasting change. Thus the booklet’s discussion of motives is helpful for bringing about real change. After completing this booklet I realized this can be a helpful “follow up” resource to some of the other booklets in the same series. For instance say someone read the series’ booklet on depression or anger; one might want to follow up next with this booklet on motive to further probe the root of one’s depression or anger.
I love how in the introduction the author tells us right away that people are complex and mentioned the analogy of icebergs and onions to describe human complexity (like icebergs there’s more under the surface than above it in regards to people and also like onion people have multiple layers). Within the first page the booklet also defined what are motives which the author defined as “why we do it.” Next the booklet makes the case that motives are important, followed by a section on idols of the heart. I enjoyed the second half of the booklet more than the first half; beginning with the second half there’s an excellent discussion of why we pursue idols that I found quite helpful such as the idea that idols are not one’s ends but instead is the means in which we fulfill the true ends which is for one’s own self and desire. The final section of the booklet is on change from the heart.
Again this is an excellent biblical counseling resource not just for the reader who is reading this for his or her own sanctification and holiness but also for the biblical counselor. Specifically for the counselor the book presents many excellent questions that are extremely helpful to ask the counselee to draw out the motives from the person’s heart. These questions are found on pages 4, 15 and 22-23 in the book. As a pastor I jot down these questions as I believe it is important to discover and/or demonstrate to someone what their motive is rather than simply making an assertion about someone’s motive. Even if a counselor have a high probability of knowing the counselee’s motive it is still important to ask questions to draw out the answer from the person so as to avoid unnecessary conflict when someone feels the counselor is being presumptuous and also to let the counslee discover it themselves since often sin does blind people concerning their true motivation. Again people are complex; yet this booklet is helpful!
March 22, 2024
I love these booklets. So good. Biblical counseling distilled down into a few short pages!
April 9, 2024
Quotes
But you don't have to be a master analyst. All vou need is a willingness to say, "Search me O God" (Ps. 139:23), and you will begin to see.
Don't be too concerned if you feel like you are just scratching the surface. More important than knowing your motives is knowing God and God is very generous in revealing himself. He should be your primary focus. We should be spending more time looking at Christ than in specting our own hearts. Because if you are growing in the knowledge of God, you will be changed-even to the depths of your heart.
But you don't have to be a master analyst. All vou need is a willingness to say, "Search me O God" (Ps. 139:23), and you will begin to see.
Don't be too concerned if you feel like you are just scratching the surface. More important than knowing your motives is knowing God and God is very generous in revealing himself. He should be your primary focus. We should be spending more time looking at Christ than in specting our own hearts. Because if you are growing in the knowledge of God, you will be changed-even to the depths of your heart.
December 22, 2018
Excellent little booklet on what is driving our actions. Hard to read because so revealing and convicting but liberating. The heart is what matters!
Read
December 29, 2019Excellent.
May 5, 2020
Has some good nuggets and reminders but did not go as deep as I was looking for.
January 15, 2021
such a short, helpful look at the desires of our heart!
August 30, 2022
School year 2022... And so it begins.
August 19, 2023
Helpful little booklet for identifying the motives of our hearts and moving toward change by looking to Christ.
“If our motives don’t change, we won’t change.” - Ed Welch
“If our motives don’t change, we won’t change.” - Ed Welch
October 30, 2024
Highly recommended. So convicting!
August 12, 2025
Este libro es maravisollo
Fácil de leer
Lo leí 2 veces
Fácil de entender.
Lo recomiendo.
Dios bendiga este autor y esta serie! Wow
Fácil de leer
Lo leí 2 veces
Fácil de entender.
Lo recomiendo.
Dios bendiga este autor y esta serie! Wow
June 27, 2013
I was very disappointed in this book as it concentrated only on negative motives, as I read the book I was increasing concerned that my motives were more selfish than I had previously considered. But no alternative was offered, no good motives were described, no method of changing motives was offered other than a trite "personal relationship with God"
August 12, 2014
Very good mini intro to the issue of motivations. So much more could be said in the same direction, but it is a micro book! If you can pick it up for cheap, do so. If you pay full price you might feel like that was an expensive one chapter!
April 30, 2016
Very solid, brief booklet on the heart’s love of idols and how a believer is called to Biblically respond.
October 5, 2016
Extremely short (28 pages), but concise message. I appreciated the biblical foundation and pointed questions to aid in understanding the motives of our hearts.
March 28, 2021
Faltas ortográficas
Bien libro, pero tiene muchas faltas ortográficas y malas traducciones. Fuera de eso, creo que se podría haber traducido mejor.
Bien libro, pero tiene muchas faltas ortográficas y malas traducciones. Fuera de eso, creo que se podría haber traducido mejor.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews