Seeking God — Why is it important?

TL;DR:

Seeking God is important because we were created for a relationship with Him. Also, God calls us to seek Him, so we may have joy in Him.

The Bible presents several reasons that seeking God is important. For one thing, we were created for a close relationship with God, as Adam and Eve had before they sinned (Genesis 2:15–17). After the first human couple sinned, they tried to hide from God, sin having damaged their intimacy with Him (Genesis 3:8). Seeking God is also important because of who He is: the giver of life (1 Timothy 6:13; John 10:10) and the great I AM (Exodus 3:14). Scripture indicates that another reason to seek the Lord is that humankind was made to worship and revere Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Isaiah 43:21; John 4:23). By fulfilling that purpose, we find joy (Psalm 16:11; Psalm 34:8; John 10:9–10). We also find eternal life in the Lord (John 10:9–10; John 17:3). God does not force Himself upon us because He is gracious and gives us free will (Matthew 23:37). He woos us to Himself (John 4:23). Only through a relationship with the Creator do human beings find joy and purpose in life and the promise of eternal life.

from the old testament

We should seek the Lord because, in Him, we find joy, as David expressed in Psalm 34:8: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
As Ecclesiastes 12:13 indicates, we were created to revere God: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Jeremiah 29:13–14a says, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD." We should seek God because He asks us to. As our omniscient Creator, God knows our needs better than we do, so seeking Him is an invitation to fulfill our needs.

from the new testament

God wants a relationship with us. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:7, He will satisfy our efforts to seek Him: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Jesus says in John 10:9–10, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Seeking God enables us to have life “abundantly” and eternally.

implications for today

Any job seeker knows the importance of networking. Landing a job is often as much about who you know as what you know. But the most significant connection we can make is close by (Acts 17:27) yet not sought by all: our Creator. Being made in God’s image and created to worship Him, we cannot lead a fulfilled life without Him in it. How do we seek God? Daily prayer is a start. Prayer isn’t just for times when you’re in a bind (though supplication can be part of prayer). It’s about laying your heart before God, asking Him to reveal Himself, and being in His presence. Reading and reflecting on God’s Word daily is another way of seeking Him. The Bible reveals who God is, which shows us the love and care He has for us. All human relationships are transient, even the closest ones. Friends lose touch. Coworkers leave for other jobs. Family passes away. But our Lord is with us always, even into eternity. Only through a relationship with the Creator do human beings find joy and purpose in life and the promise of eternal life.

understand

We were created for a relationship with God, and seeking Him leads us to fulfill our purpose.
God is the giver of life and joy, and seeking Him leads to abundant and eternal life.
God invites us to seek Him.

reflect

How do you actively seek God in your daily life?
What do you think it means to truly find joy in seeking God?
How does the idea that we were created to worship and revere God impact your understanding of your purpose in life?

engage

How can we encourage others to seek God with all our heart?
How might our understanding of eternal life and abundant life in Christ shape our approach to daily living?
How does seeking God compare to other relationships or pursuits in life? What does it look like to prioritize seeking God above all else?