Motive
Why do people do right? The question is put bluntly in Job 1:9, when Satan asks the LORD, “Doth Job fear God for nought?” The accusation is that Job’s goodness is bought by his comforts. The rest of the book tests it. Motives are also read, rightly or wrongly, in 2 Samuel 10, where David sends comforters to a grieving king and the king’s princes suspect spies. And God tells angry Cain, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” (Genesis 4:7). In these passages, what lies behind an action matters as much as the action.
9 verses
Genesis
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
2 Samuel
Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
Job
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Psalms
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.