During a conversation with a friend, the topic turned to a single young woman in her late twenties, who frequented parties and didn’t attend church. My friend asked, “Why doesn’t she stop partying and come to church so she can find a husband?” This prompted me to reflect on the true motives behind our pursuit of God. Honestly, it bothered me that he thought she should come to church in order to get something other than Jesus. It dawned on me that, more often than not, many of us seek God not for the sake of a genuine relationship but rather as a means to attain temporary desires such as relationships, wealth, or success.
It’s understandable; We see and hear the testimonies of others and we’re like “God, I see what you’re doing for others! God, when?!” Witnessing someone finding love or prosperity in a short span after embracing Christianity can be compelling. Let’s not forget these viral reels of girls being proposed to at church. We want the blessing too! We’re drawn to the idea that if we pray a little here and there, post something along the lines of “daughter of the Most High” on our Instagram bios, and write a cute scripture in our captions, God will surely see that we’re trying and simply grant our wishes. However, we must not forget that our relationship with God shouldn’t resemble a transactional, sugar-daddy dynamic.
You see such a transactional dynamic with God is so dangerous. Here’s how it works: we come to God with our needs and if He answers, great! We’re excited, we move on and then God doesn’t hear from us again until there’s another need. If God doesn’t answer, we’re upset, and we relax on this “Jesus thing” because it doesn’t seem to be working. When this happens, we allow the devil to place seeds of doubt in our hearts. We then lose our faith and trust in God.
Came for the Wrong Reason
Some might have found themselves at the altar driven by a desire for something temporary—a job, a relationship, or financial stability. However, as time passed, frustration set in when life didn’t unfold as expected. It’s crucial to remember what Jesus said. In Matthew 16:24, He said, “ “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” The Christian journey is not always smooth; it involves storms and tests. When the wind blows, will you still be able stand?
Don’t Come for Anything Else!
If you approach God seeking anything other than Him, be prepared for disappointment. Following Christ demands a daily commitment of crucifying your flesh, giving up total control over your own life to walk in His will, being hated by the world, and sometimes possibly being hated by your own family because of Jesus Christ. But because we know that at the end of all of this, there is such a great reward that no man can give, we stick through it. Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” The journey might not always be pleasant, but the ultimate reward is beyond human comprehension.
What Are You Seeking?
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Christ tells us to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God & His righteousness and all the additional things we require and desire will be added unto us. Matthew 6:33 emphasizes prioritizing the kingdom of God over worldly desires. Seeking God first ensures that everything else falls into place. But the issue is that we seek all those extra things first and then place the Kingdom of God & His righteousness at the end of the list. Unfortunately, many tend to reverse this order, we seek the other things first and put God at the bottom of the list. resulting in spiritual barrenness, as illustrated in Mark 4:18-19.
Live For Him
God desires individuals who are wholly devoted to Him. Seeking Him with unconditional love and a deep yearning that surpasses worldly desires is what He seeks. Pray for a heart so content in Him that you can say “Lord, even if I never receive the things I want, You are still Lord! Without any of those things I still love You, no strings attached. Without any of those things I still choose to worship and praise You.”
If you find yourself placing temporary desires above your relationship with God, remember the power of repentance. Sincerely seek forgiveness, turn away from those misplaced priorities, and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in strengthening your connection with God (1 John 1:9). Let your pursuit of God be rooted in a genuine desire to know Him, beyond the allure of fleeting desires.
Praying for you always,
Natasha
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