Seek God First: From Problem-Solving Faith to Trusting Discipleship
Knowing God, Walking by Faith, and Trusting His Providence
CHRISTIANITY ✝️ TODAY
Devotional Companion
SEEK GOD FIRST: FROM PROBLEM-SOLVING FAITH TO TRUSTING DISCIPLESHIP
Theological Topic:
Knowing God, Walking by Faith, and Trusting His Providence
Study Guide Editorial By
TELEVANGELIST HB MORGAN
Digital Library Publications
Broadcasting Network
KEY TEXT
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
«“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”»
1. THE FIRST QUESTION: WHY DO YOU COME TO GOD?
There is a profound question every Christian should honestly ask:
Why do I come to God?
Why do I pray?
Why do I attend church?
Why do I worship?
Why do I serve?
Why do I participate in Christian programmes?
Why do I seek the presence of God?
The answer to these questions reveals the true condition and direction of our faith.
For many people, God has unconsciously become primarily a problem-solving mechanism. They approach Him when they need healing, employment, financial breakthrough, marriage, deliverance, protection, promotion, or some other personal benefit.
Consequently, when their expectations are not immediately fulfilled, their relationship with God becomes unstable.
They move from one church to another, one preacher to another, one programme to another, and one prophetic declaration to another, continually searching for the place where their immediate needs will be satisfied.
But Christianity is much deeper than having our problems solved.
God did not save us merely so that we could have fewer problems. He saved us so that we could know Him.
The greatest blessing of salvation is not what God can put into our hands; it is God Himself becoming the centre of our lives.
2. GOD IS NOT MERELY A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEMS
There is nothing wrong with bringing our needs before God.
Scripture actually encourages us to pray, ask, seek, and depend upon Him. God cares about our daily lives, our needs, our families, our work, our ministries, and our circumstances.
But there is a difference between seeking God because He is God and seeking God only because of what He can give us.
Jesus warned against a faith that pursues Him merely for material benefits.
John 6:26 (KJV)
«“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”»
The people followed Jesus because they had eaten.
They wanted the bread, but Jesus wanted their hearts.
This remains a powerful warning to the contemporary Church.
Do we want the Giver, or merely His gifts?
Do we want God's presence, or only His presents?
Do we want His kingdom, or merely His benefits?
Do we desire His character to be formed in us, or are we simply looking for circumstances to change around us?
3. THE REAL PURPOSE OF OUR WALK WITH GOD
God desires a relationship with His people.
Christianity is not fundamentally a transaction:
“God, I give You attendance; You give me blessings.”
It is a covenant relationship in which God calls us to know Him, love Him, obey Him, trust Him, worship Him, and become increasingly conformed to His will.
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (KJV)
«“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me…”»
The highest pursuit is not simply what God can do for us, but knowing who God is.
When we genuinely know God, our understanding of life changes.
We learn to trust Him in abundance and in scarcity.
We worship Him in celebration and in difficulty.
We remain faithful when prayers are answered immediately and when answers appear delayed.
We do not abandon God because circumstances have become uncomfortable.
Our faith is anchored in His character, not merely in His interventions.
4. FROM EXISTENCE TO REAL LIFE
A person can be physically alive and yet spiritually disconnected from the purpose for which God created humanity.
Jesus said:
John 17:3 (KJV)
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
Notice the language of Jesus:
“That they might know thee.”
Eternal life is not merely endless existence.
It is relational knowledge of God through Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the Christian life must continually move us from merely existing to genuinely living in fellowship with God.
The more we know Him, the more our desires are transformed.
The more we know Him, the more our priorities become aligned with His kingdom.
The more we know Him, the more we trust His wisdom.
The more we know Him, the more we become willing to obey Him—even when obedience requires sacrifice.
5. SEEK GOD FIRST
Jesus gave the proper order of kingdom priorities:
Matthew 6:31–33 (KJV)
«“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
…for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”»
Jesus did not deny that His disciples had needs.
He simply established the correct order:
God first.
His kingdom first.
His righteousness first.
Provision follows divine priority.
This brings us naturally to the second dimension of our devotional study:
If God calls us, can we trust Him to sustain what He has called us to do?
6. BE GOD-MINDED, NOT FEAR-MINDED
Luke 10:3–4 (KJV)
«“Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.”»
Jesus sent His disciples into ministry with instructions that required faith.
He did not tell them to wait until every financial condition was perfect.
He did not tell them to first accumulate every possible resource before obeying.
He told them:
“Go.”
Their assignment was to obey.
Their confidence was to be in the One who sent them.
This does not mean that ministers should be careless, irresponsible, or opposed to wise planning.
Rather, it means that provision must never become a substitute for obedience.
If God sends you, your confidence must ultimately rest in God—not in human connections, bank accounts, sponsors, fundraising campaigns, or material security.
7. THE TESTIMONY OF THE DISCIPLES
Jesus later reminded His disciples of their earlier missionary journey.
Luke 22:35 (KJV)
“And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.”
This is one of the most powerful lessons in biblical ministry.
They went without the conventional security they might have expected.
Yet when Jesus asked them whether they lacked anything, their answer was:
“Nothing.”
The lesson is not that Christians should never plan, budget, save, build structures, or receive legitimate financial support.
The lesson is that human provision must never replace divine dependence.
Paul himself taught responsible stewardship and acknowledged the importance of legitimate support for ministry.
But the source of confidence remains God.
8. WHEN GOD SENDS YOU, TRUST HIS PROVIDENCE
One of the greatest dangers in ministry is attempting to accomplish a divine assignment through purely human dependence.
A person may say:
“God told me to do this, but I cannot move until everybody supports me.”
There is a place for counsel, preparation, partnership, fundraising, planning, and administration.
But there must also be a place for faith.
If God truly gives the assignment, He is not ignorant of the resources required to accomplish it.
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
«“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”»
God's provision may come through people.
It may come through employment.
It may come through supporters.
It may come through unexpected opportunities.
It may come through ordinary means of provision.
But whatever channel God uses, He remains the ultimate Provider.
Therefore, do not worship the channel.
Trust the Source.
9. FAITH DOES NOT CANCEL WISDOM
There is an important balance here.
Trusting God does not mean abandoning wisdom.
Faith is not recklessness.
Prayer is not a replacement for responsible action.
Trusting divine provision does not justify deception, manipulation, emotional exploitation, dishonest fundraising, or careless financial behaviour.
Proverbs 21:5 (MSG)
“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.”
God can provide supernaturally, but Scripture also teaches diligence, wisdom, planning, integrity, stewardship, and patience.
Therefore:
Pray as though God is your Provider.
Plan as though you are accountable for your stewardship.
Work as though diligence matters.
Give as though God owns everything.
Trust as though God is faithful.
10. NEVER BUILD GOD'S WORK ON LIES
The second wisdom principle is equally important.
Proverbs 21:6 (MSG)
“Make it to the top by lying and cheating; get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death!”
The kingdom of God cannot be advanced through ungodly methods.
A ministry does not become legitimate simply because its stated objective is Christian.
If the methods involve deception, manipulation, false claims, dishonest financial appeals, fabricated testimonies, or exploitation of vulnerable people, the methods contradict the message.
God's work must be done God's way.
We must never say:
«“God told me to do it,”»
when what we actually mean is:
«“I want to do it, and I need God to endorse my plan.”»
There is a difference between being sent by God and using God's name to justify our own ambitions.
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11. THE SCRIPTURAL NARRATIVE: JESUS SENDS, GOD PROVIDES
Consider the biblical pattern.
Jesus called His disciples.
He gave them an assignment.
He sent them.
They went.
They encountered opposition.
They ministered.
They returned.
And later Jesus asked:
“Lacked ye any thing?”
Their answer:
“Nothing.”
This narrative teaches us a profound principle:
The person who truly understands divine calling learns to distinguish between responsibility and anxiety.
Our responsibility is obedience.
God's responsibility is sovereignty.
We prepare.
We plan.
We labour.
We steward.
We pray.
We obey.
But we ultimately trust God with what lies beyond our control.
12. THE CHURCH MUST BECOME A PLACE OF DISCIPLESHIP
If the Church exists only as a place where people come to have their problems solved, then believers may become consumers rather than disciples.
They may continually ask:
“What can I get?”
instead of:
“What can I learn?”
“How can I know Christ?”
“How can I become more like Him?”
“What does God want me to do?”
“How can I serve His kingdom?”
The mature Christian does not merely ask God to change circumstances.
The mature Christian also allows God to change the person facing those circumstances.
Sometimes God changes the situation.
Sometimes He changes us in the situation.
Sometimes He removes the burden.
Sometimes He gives us grace to carry it.
In every case, His ultimate purpose is that we know Him and become more like Christ.
13. THE MARK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Spiritual maturity is demonstrated when our relationship with God survives circumstances.
If God blesses us, we remain His.
If God delays an answer, we remain His.
If the door opens, we remain His.
If the door closes, we remain His.
If people celebrate us, we remain His.
If people reject us, we remain His.
If provision is abundant, we remain grateful.
If provision appears limited, we remain trusting.
This is the faith described in Scripture.
Habakkuk 3:17–18 (KJV)
«“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail…
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”»
That is mature faith.
Not faith that says, “I will trust God only if everything works.”
But faith that says:
“Even when circumstances fail, God remains worthy of my trust.”
14. A PERSONAL EXAMINATION
Today, ask yourself these questions honestly:
Why do I come to God?
Is it primarily because I want His blessings?
Or because I want to know Him?
Why do I attend church?
Is it merely because I need something?
Or am I becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Why do I serve?
Is it for recognition?
For financial benefit?
For position?
For influence?
Or because I love Christ and desire to fulfil His will?
Why do I pursue ministry?
Did God truly send me?
Or am I trying to create something and then asking God to finance it?
What happens when God does not answer immediately?
Do I abandon Him?
Or do I continue to trust His wisdom and character?
These questions expose the foundation of our faith.
15. THE CENTRAL THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE
The Christian life can be summarized in this order:
KNOW GOD → TRUST GOD → OBEY GOD → SERVE GOD → TRUST HIS PROVIDENCE
We do not serve in order to manipulate God.
We serve because we know Him.
We do not obey because we are purchasing blessings.
We obey because He is Lord.
We do not trust God merely because He gives us what we want.
We trust Him because He is faithful.
We do not make provision our god.
We recognize God as our Provider.
And we do not pursue ministry merely because ministry can provide us with recognition, influence, or resources.
We pursue God's will because He is worthy.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for revealing the truth of Your Word to my heart.
Forgive me for every time I have approached You merely because of what I wanted You to do for me.
Teach me to seek You for who You are.
Give me a heart that desires to know You, love You, obey You, worship You, and walk faithfully with You.
Help me to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.
Where You have called me, give me the courage to obey.
Where I am afraid of lack, teach me to trust Your providence.
Where I have depended excessively on human beings, redirect my confidence toward You.
Give me wisdom to plan, diligence to work, integrity to serve, humility to receive help, and faith to trust You.
Deliver me from manipulation, deception, impatience, and self-centred ambition.
Let my ministry, service, work, worship, and entire life bring glory to Your name.
May I never love Your gifts more than I love You.
May I never pursue Your provision while neglecting Your presence.
Make me a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ—one who knows You, trusts You, obeys You, and serves You faithfully.
In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
BIBLE STUDY REFERENCES
Primary Scriptures:
Hebrews 11:6
Matthew 6:31–33
John 6:26
John 17:3
Luke 10:3–4
Luke 22:35
Philippians 4:1–19
Jeremiah 9:23–24
Habakkuk 3:17–18
Additional References:
Isaiah 1:1–3
Psalm 1:1–3
Proverbs 21:5–6
WISDOM CAPSULE
Proverbs 21:5 (MSG)
«“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.”»
Meditation:
Seek God before His gifts.
Trust God above human resources.
Obey God before demanding perfect conditions.
Plan wisely, serve faithfully, and depend ultimately upon God.
DAILY DECLARATION
I will not reduce God to a problem-solver.
I will seek to know Him.
I will seek His kingdom first.
I will obey His Word.
I will follow His direction.
I will serve with integrity.
I will plan with wisdom.
I will work with diligence.
I will trust God's providence.
I will not manipulate people for what only God can provide.
My confidence is in the Lord, my Provider, my Shepherd, my Father, and my God.
I will seek God—not merely what God can give me.
And as I seek Him, I will trust Him to take care of what concerns me.
In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Compiled By:
Christian Church World News (CCWN)
Television Network Presshouse Media