How Important Are Your Intentions?

Whenever a person speaks, there is meaning in what is spoken. The speaker has an intended message he is trying to convey. It is frustrating when the listener misunderstands, misinterprets, ignores, or intentionally twists your intended meaning. Your frustration answers the title question: How important are intentions?

In the Bible there are several instances in which intentions are of great significance.

God’s word: 

God’s message to mankind has meaning that originated in His mind. He expects mankind to understand and respond based on the meaning He intended, not ‘what it means to me.’ 

Consider 2 Peter 1:20-21…

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Sacrifice: 

In the Old Testament people would bring an animal to a priest to slay it and offered it as a sacrifice. However, there were different purposes of the sacrifices. A sin offering was for the forgiveness of one’s sin. A peace offering was for maintaining fellowship with God. An offering of thanks was a sacrifice of simple gratitude. The person’s intent in offering the sacrifice was the first element in determining its purpose and benefit.

Carried a step further, consider the hunter who kills an animal for food or the person who takes from his livestock to host a feast for friends. Would the slaying of either of those animals forgive sins, secure fellowship with God, or be considered thanksgiving to God. Intent determines the purpose of the death of the animal and the expected benefit.

Baptism: 

As kids we loved to go to the creek near my grandmother’s house. While playing, someone would always be dunked. Technically speaking, that was a baptism. (The literal meaning of baptism is immersion, presumably in water). However, because the creek dunking was done with only playful intent, it had no religious significance. However, when a person is baptized into Christ according to Scripture intending to receive the promises that God has declared, then baptism is full of meaning. It has a spiritual effect because of what God has declared and promised.

Furthermore, what if your intent at your baptism was not the same as God’s intent? What if you were baptized so you could have your name placed on the membership role at a local church group or to show your parents that you were a responsible kid? Those are not God’s intent in baptism. Baptism has value only if your intent matches God’s intent!

Worship: 

When you sing a hymn do you intend to worship? Or is it merely words dribbling off your lips like dog slobbers? The Apostle Paul, in stressing the importance of accurate communication in our assembly, wrote, “I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” (1 Corinthians 14:15) His simple point was that if there was no understanding of the mind, then the singing was of no value. (That’s why it is of no value to sing songs in a foreign language unless the meaning is understood.)

When the bread and cup are taken during the Lord’s Supper, how can it be worship if your mind is wandering aimlessly or thinking about lunch or distracted by the toddler sitting in front of you? What is your intent?

Intent is not important; it is critical! 

If you lack intent when you are following God’s instruction in Scripture, or if your intent is different from God’s intent, then you will cheat yourself out of God’s intended blessings.

Mark Stinnett

August 9, 2026