Wisdom Wednesday: The Wisdom of Seeking God
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt 6:31–33 NASB 1995)
In this well-known verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes the importance of what we are seeking in life. Life is a search, and we are seekers. But what are we searching for?
Psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced the concept of a hierarchy of human needs in 1943, which ranged from our most basic needs to our most complex. His hierarchy included five areas of search:
- Physiological–is the lowest most basic need that we seek–food, water, clothing, shelter, sleep.
- Safety and security–are the next basic needs we seek.
- Love and Belonging -this psychological next level is provided by family and friends.
- Esteem- provided by seeking confidence and achievement, often in our family and work.
- Self-actualization–is the term used by Maslow to address our search for self-fulfillment, to find out where we fit, and a purpose for our life.
I have found it interesting that the Scripture addresses, specifically, our most basic need as well as our highest need, according to Maslow’s theory. Jesus addressed our search for both of these needs in the Matthew 6 passage:
Seek first your need for your Creator and His kingdom, and,
He will provide your most basic needs–eat, drink, and clothing.
The wisdom Jesus described was in placing God above all things – to seek His Kingdom answers three fundamental questions we all ask:
- QUESTION: Where did all of this come from? And this planet, the universe, even my life? Answer: I was created by God in His image to enjoy Him forever.
- QUESTION: Why am I Here? Answer: to reveal his character in my life (to glorify Him), and to have a relationship with him in His kingdom.
- QUESTION: After life, what is next? Answer: To be with God forever in His kingdom.
If we seek Him first, God will provide the other things that we naturally seek for life. David captures this desire in Psalm 27:4: “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.” David also expressed his cry to seek God: “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1.
Long before the sermon on the Mount, God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to the disobedient people of Israel regarding his plan to return the next generation from Babylon. His appeal to the people was the same–they seek God and His purpose:
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12–13).
Paul closed his letter to the church at Phillipi assuring them, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).
Here is the essence of wisdom – to seek God with all our heart and allow Him to provide what we really need.