“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

Proverbs 8:17

The most important thing a Christian can do is to seek after God. God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son to die upon the cross – just so we could have a relationship with Him! All we must do is to love Him enough to seek after Him. See what David wrote: “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalm 63:1). He thirsted and longed after God. He understood he was in a dry and thirsty land, and he needed the refreshment found only in God and His Word.

Did you notice when David said that he would seek after God? He said, “early will I seek thee.” His son, King Solomon, echoes this sentiment. See what King Solomon recorded for us to read: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17). This verse tells us that God loves those who love Him. It also says that those who seek him early will find Him. Did you notice the word “early” in that verse, too? The word early means “be up early at any task with the implication of earnestness and by extension to search for painstakingly.” One must earnestly seek God early. The best time is to seek God first thing each morning. Not only will you not run out of time during the day to spend with Him, but also the course of your day will be better set by seeking Him early. As one seeks God, reading His Word, we learn how God wants His people to live. See what Jesus wrote for us to understand: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). When we have and keep God’s Word, we understand just how much he loves us. But more than that, he promises to “manifest” Himself to us. What does this mean? He promises to “disclose by words, inform, or show” Himself to us. We must understand the importance of reading the Bible, seeking after God, knowing it is then that we will understand Him.

It is not only important to seek God early in each day, but early in one’s life. The earlier a child (or even a young person) begins to seek after God, the easier it will be for them to find Him. The older a person gets, the less likely they will find it important enough to seek after God. There are many excuses; too many to even try to list. Nevertheless, the longer one waits in their life, the less likely one will even try to seek earnestly after God. Read a reason David wrote as to why one will not seek after God: “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4). For some, God is not even in their thoughts even to seek. 

However, there is so much more encouraging us to seek after God than just Proverbs 8:17. What happens when one loves God and chooses to seek Him early – finding Him? Read what God says in the verses that follow that one: “18. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (Proverbs 8:18-21). God has all of the riches, righteousness, and fruit (reward) better than gold or silver. God’s Word leads into the paths of righteousness, causing those that love Him to inherit substance. God will fill our treasures, Himself! What better life could one hope to have?

But it all begins with loving God enough to seek after him diligently. Things in this life should never keep us from seeking God or the things of God.

Have you sought after God?