Motives for Seeking God
Thomas Manton (1620-1677) was an English Scholar, minister, and royal chaplain. After being ordained at the young age of 19, Manton went on to lead a fruitful ministry. In spite of persecution later in life, Manton left behind a rich collection of books and Bible commentaries.
In his work on Psalm 119, Manton writes,
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, that seek him with the whole heart.
Psalm 119:2.
The motives to seek God are —
It was the end of our creation.
1. It was the end of our creation. We do not live merely to live; but for this end were we sent into the world, to seek God. Nature is sensible of it in part by the dissatisfaction it finds in other things; and therefore, the apostle describes the Gentiles to be groping and feeling about for God (Acts 17:27). God is the cause of all things, and nature cannot be satisfied without him. We were made for God and can never enjoy satisfaction until we come to enjoy him; therefore, the Psalmist saith, We are all gone aside, and altogether become filthy (Ps. 14:2). Nature is out of joint; we are quite out of our way to true happiness. We are seeking that for which we were created when we seek and inquire after God.
We seek other things that we want with great solicitude and care; we are cumbered with much serving to obtain the world: and shall anything be sought more than God?
2. We seek other things that we want with great solicitude and care; we are cumbered with much serving to obtain the world: and shall anything be sought more than God? We can least spare him. The chiefest good should be sought after with the chiefest care, and chiefest love, and chiefest delight; nothing should be so precious to us as God. It is the greatest baseness that can be, that anything should take up our time, our thoughts, and content us more than God. When we come to God we are earnest for other things: 'They howl upon their beds for corn and wine” (Hosea 7:14). If anything be sought from God above God, more than God, and not for God, it is but a brutish cry.
It is our benefit to seek God.
3. It is our benefit to seek God. It is no benefit to God if we do not seek him. The Lord hath no less, though we have less. He that hides himself from the sun, doth not impair the light. We derogate nothing from God if we do not seek him. He needed not the creature: he had happiness enough in himself; but we hide ourselves from our own happiness and our own peace. But what benefit have we by seeking God? A great deal of present benefit: 'They that seek thee shall praise thy name' (Ps. 22:26). You will have cause to bless God before the search be over. God hath passed his word, there are a great many experiences we taste. As they that continue in the pursuit of the philosopher's stone find out many experiences which are a satisfaction to their understandings, so, one way or other, we shall have cause to bless God. The God of Jacob hath openly professed we shall not seek him in vain (Isa. 44:19); that is, this is a truth God hath written as it were with a sunbeam, that something will come in seeking of God. By seeking him in prayer we carry away a great deal of comfort and strength. As we read of that emperor that sent not away anyone sad out of his presence, so neither doth God; there is some comfort to be had in waiting upon him; and as it brings present comfort and satisfaction, so it brings an everlasting reward: He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6). If you would have the fruit of your holy calling, that which is the result of that religion you do profess, you must diligently seek him, so that in effect we never seek ourselves more than when we seek the Lord: 'Seek the Lord, and ye shall live' (Amos 5:6). It is the undoubted way to get eternal life, to live forever. They that seek not his face here shall never see his face forever. With what diligence will men court an outward preferment, which is yet very uncertain? 'All men seek the ruler's face; but every man's judgment is of the Lord' (Prov. 29:26). What a deal of observance and waiting is there for the ruler's face and favour! and yet God disposeth of every man's judgment. It is uncertain whether they shall obtain it, yea or nay; but now, if you seek the face of God in heaven, you shall live forever.